Time: January 1, 2017
When entering a new year, most make a vow to better themselves for the future of the year. When the clock hit midnight last night, I made a vow to myself that I would keep Yuzuru and the boys safe. No matter what. I made that decisions days ago, months ago really. I sealed the deal with myself at midnight when the clock hit 12 a.m and I pressed my lips to Yuzuru's. This was a fight between Romano and me and I'm not willing to get Yuzu in between the crossfire
As I woke up this morning, I couldn't help but think things were a bit out of place. Like someone was here, the night before
"Mmmm" I groan peeking my head out from out under the covers
The curtains were still drawn so only a little bit of light was peeking through from under the cracks
Yuzuru was still sound asleep beside me, his slender arms still wrapped around waist.For the past few nights after Christmas, Yuzu's been a bit distraught so I've been staying with him at night. I can't help but listen closely and hear his soft snoring. The way he wrinkled his nose ever so slightly and the way his lips parted made me smile a little. With everything I've been through, I'm glad he suck around to keep me safe and show me what love feels like
I turn my head from facing Yuzuru's and my eyes meet something sitting on my night table, the baby blue packaging catching my eyes immediately
"Fuck" I whisper reaching my right hand forward to pick it up
"Mmm? Charlie-chan? What are you doing?" Yuzu asks wiping the sleep from his eyes and looking over my shoulder
I quickly shove the small box under the covers hoping his didn't see it
He's been sleeping less and less for the past few nights and it's been worrying me
I don't need him to stress out over another gift from Romano, so it might be better to hide this one from him
"Charlie-chan, please? You're not doing me any good by hiding it" he says wrapping his arms around me tighter and planting his chin on on shoulder
"Are..are you sure?" I ask him
"I'm sure Charlotte-chan" he says with a shaky voice
My right hand shakily pulls the lid of the box off
Inside lies a velvet navy blue box
A box in a box can never be a good sign....
I pull the velvet box out and flip the lid open, revealing 24 carat gold ring
The gold band was engraved with small detailing and sitting in the middle was a giant tear shaped diamond
"There's a note" Yuzu whispers to me
There's always a note
Always
I reach for the paper sitting in the baby blue box and unravel the familiar folding
My Dearest Charlotte,
This is my proposal and my promise
that we will get married soon.
Sooner than you think.
You're coming home sweetheart.
Yours,
J.R
I finish reading the message and place the note back into the box
"Yuzu-kun?" I ask turning around to face him yet again
He doesn't say anything but dig his face into my chest
His body starts to shake and then I can feel his hot tears soak it's way into my shirt
"Yuzu-kun, he won't find me I promise. He won't hurt me or us or anyone..I-I" I stutter trying to find any other excuse that I can feed him, but I can't
Romano is coming for me and even I can't convince myself otherwise
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock
Knock
Knock
"Someone get the door!" Javi shouts from the kitchen where he stirs up a pot of chilli
"I got it!" I shout dropping the black pepper and running to the door
"Charlie-chan, wait!" Yuzu shouts following me to the door
I pull open the door and standing on our welcome mat is Keith himself
"Keith? Wait what are you doing here?" I ask him
"Because Romano" he answers simply, pushing past me and entering the house
"I thought you couldn't leave Japan. You know Yakuza and all?" I question
"Hey, I do what I can because I care about you ok? It wasn't a glamorous trip to get here" he answers
"What about him?" Yuzu asks, panic lacing through his voice
"He's on his way, and I need to get you guys out of here" he answers
"Wait, Romano? He's here?" Javi shouts, dumping the wooden spoon in the pot and meeting the three of us in the family room
"How do you know?" I ask
"A tracker. The only way to catch him is to track him so why not play by his rules?" Keith asks pulling his phone out from his pocket
"See here? It says he's about 50 minutes away so we have time. Let's get out of here while we can. Pack what you need and let's move' he says
"Wait is something burning?" Keith adds getting up from the couch
From the kitchen a steam of smoke starts making it's way into the family room
"Javi! The chilli!" I shout
"Oh shit the chilli!" Javi shouts jumping over the sofa and rushing to the stove
"Yuzu-kun, help me open some windows" I tell him pushing the windows up and letting the smoke out
"Alright guys, I'm sorry about the chilli but we got to go like RIGHT NOW!" Keith shouts
"Alright, alright let's go pack some stuff guys" I shout rushing up the stairs to go pack a duffle bag
10 minutes later
"Ok guys, we gotta get out of here quick" Keith shouts rushing down the stairs with our bags in hand
"Where are we going anyways?" Javi asks following suit
Before Keith can answer, my phone beeps notifying a new message
I pull out my phone and an unsettling shiver rushes down my spine
Unknown: Going so soon?
"Guys let's make our move now!" I shout sprinting to the door
Before I can reach the door, a metal object flies into the house from the open window making a clanging sound on the floor
"What is that?" Javi asks
And the object answers for itself when the room is suddenly filled with a misty grey smoke
"Guys cover your mouths, it's a sleep grenade" Keith shouts blocking his nose with the sleeve of his shirt
The three of us follow his lead and cover our faces, trying to see through the smoke and make it to the door awake
"Guys.." Javi shouts in a drowsy voice falling slump to the floor
"Javi!" Yuzu shouts rushing back in to get him
"Yuzu-kun, wait!" I shout rushing back in the to help him get Javi out
"Oh God, come on guys we gotta move!" Keith shout rushing back into the house with us
"I-I-can't breath" Yuzu chokes out, falling slump asleep next to Javi
"Yu-Yuzu!" I cry pulling at his arm
The smoke in the room is so thick that I can barely see anything
"Keith help me please!" I call looking behind me to find Keith passed out on the ground as well
And soon enough the sleeping gas had consumed my lungs as well, knocking me to the ground
I could feel my eyes rolling to the back of my head and my eyelids fluttering shut
The last thing I saw before I was completely knocked out was a familiar pair of blue eyes and bleached blond hair...
"Your coming home sweetheart" said his sickeningly sweet voice
I could feel him wrap his muscular arms around me, lifting me up bridal style
And then my eyes completely shut and it was me and darkness