Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. January, 1991. The world has entered the technology era, portable phones, home computers, internet, video games. Japan quickly became the epicenter of the latest and greatest. Companies and factories flourished. Where money was, people followed. And while many rose to live a comfortable, happy, and delightful life from this new found money... Others did not. You see, money has this effect on people that can't be outdone. People will do anything for it. And when it starts slipping into the wrong hands, it's impossible to stop. Benethe the day time laborers and the double-shift workers, a seedy underbelly of syndicates exists. Narctics, black market, organized crime, money laundering, you name it and it's been growing as fast as the upper world economy. While many do it just to stay alive, there's those who make it their posh lifestyle. Either way, there's only one question. What would you do if the money was good enough?
JAN 29 2021: Welcome!! ƎLEMENT has been open for two weeks now and we're so happy to see such a bright beginning! If you're new feel free to drop into the discord and say hi before joining.
Seiko’s body feels numb, tingly with a sensation familiar to her. She hadn’t been high for a long time, but she’d never fail to recognize the feeling. Despite this she still has grit down tightly on the cloth in her mouth, feeling the pressure of the needle stitching through her side. She groans softly but she musters the energy to pull through it. There was no way she was going to pass out at just this. This didn’t really feel like anything compared to what Francis could do to her. What he was capable of always hurt much more. She may not have cared for his love, but his disrespect, some of the things he’d say to her, those didn’t compare to the piercing of her flesh. She knows she deserves better, but where would she find better? Francis was as good as it got for someone like her. A potential heir to a large company, someone with something to prove, willing to work as hard as necessary to get it. Someone like her. [break][break]
Seiko practically spits out the towel when Shuichi declares his completion. She breathes heavy, but relaxes as she observes the closed wound. At least that wasn’t going to kill her today. Going down as an abuse victim wasn’t what she wanted to be known for. She had to be a fantastic lawyer, help people like her. She couldn’t do that from six feet in the ground now, could she? She sighs, and smiles softly despite the residing pain. [break][break] “Yeah, I should be alright. I managed to walk at least half a kilometer, even with the wound,” she almost prides herself. Seiko was tough, and she’d push through whatever she had to. She had something to prove. She listens to him muse a few places to go from here and she shakes her head, waving it off casually. “I don’t really care where we go as long as it’s not back to my boyfriend’s apartment. We could go to mine but it’s over in Gotanda, so probably not convenient given the situation. Whatever is easiest for you, I'm not particularly worried about going to your apartment. You just saved my life off the side of the street,” Seiko explains casually. They trust Shuichi enough to go to his apartment if it was easier. They may not have known him before these moments, but she owed her life to him, and he knew something about her most others never would. She doesn’t take this lightly. "Alternatively, I'm happy to pay for a cab, I just can't go on record as having these injuries."
Seiko couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at her lips, shimmering eyes scanning the flustered reaction of a criminal caught in the act. She chuckles, pulling back, and folding her arms coolly across her chest. [break]
"Heh, you're going to be one hell of a lawyer." [break] “Damn right I will,” Seiko almost teases, as though that should have been obvious. It should have been, really. Seiko wasn’t just anyone. She was born into the affluent family of lawyers. The Murakami name had remained on the firm's door for generations. Seiko was a Murakami, just as much as her father or her brother. She wasn’t any less than either of them. Perhaps she was young, and still had things to learn, but she was beyond the abilities which they had at her age. Seiko knows this, even if no one else does. Hikaru was going to be one more person that knew. One by one, people would respect Seiko the same way they did the men in her family. One day... [break][break]
Seiko occasionally darts her eyes to check in on their order, as the conversation progresses. By progressing, she thinks, more like Hikaru nervously rambling for the next few moments. She listens to his monologue about vigilantism, about favors and about being decent. Seiko would consider herself relatively decent too. She can’t help but chuckle as he stumbles through his words. She swings her foot under the table, perhaps enjoying her position a little too much. Feeling in control, that was what she was supposed to feel all the time. Seiko wanted this, all the time.
[break][break] “Listen, Hikaru. I’ll let you in on a little secret,” she leans in, speaking in a whispered, playful tone. “I may be a lawyer, but that doesn’t mean I like the way the law works either. What do you think I’m doing here?” Seiko pulls back, watching as the waitstaff arrive at their table. She receives her order politely, perhaps sweetly, because that contrast between moments was so invigorating to her. Seiko watches carefully as the waitress leaves, before returning her attention to Hikaru. [break] “Generally, I wouldn’t give out information on a ‘favor’. I usually prefer more direct payment, but I’m sure we can work something out.” Seiko holds back a grin. She loved doing this. Arrangements like this feel so much more than she would normally. How exhilarating.
Seiko watches Shuichi closely. She wonders what he has to say in return. The look on his face... Seiko felt like she could see something going on beyond the surface. There seemed to be this kind of pull. Trying to remain a professional distance, but an underlying care, concern. She sees this expression on her co-workers quite often. Some lawyers became far too emotionally invested; Seiko couldn’t relate. She could relate to Shuichi’s position, wanting to know more. Seiko wonders what goes on in this stranger’s head, that has him stopped here, helping her. Perhaps she’s just delirious from the blood loss. Things do feel a little faint, but not in a way that she really feels bothered by yet. Almost like being overtired, and no longer caring about when you actually get to bed, just with a painful gash in her side.
[break][break]
Seiko watches with intrigue as he talks, no longer at a point of masking her thoughts. Normally she would be more stoic, harder to read, but as she lay in the cold, her life in a stranger’s hands, she wasn’t too bothered by it. She laughs a little as he tips a couple pills into her hand. [break] “Yeah, no issue. It's not like I haven’t taken something like this before,” Seiko throws out casually before throwing the pills as far back into her throat as she could. She swallows them dry with little trouble. It’s uncomfortable, as it always was, but they go down easy enough. Seiko takes a deep breath, blinks a couple of times and sighs. A little hazy, she takes the cloth from Shuichi, muttering a quiet thanks.
[break][break]
Seiko shoves the cloth between her teeth, fiddling with it to make it as comfortable as possible. She takes a deep breath, breathing forcefully slow as she braces herself. She doesn’t look forward to it, but forces her teeth down into the cloth, and try to ride it out.
Delicate fingers fumble, a little clumsy with stress, to pull the cigarette from its packaging. Lipstick tainted lips don’t hesitate to take the relief between them. Desperate. Craving. It had been a long day, and Seiko was in need of some relief. She strolled down Shinjuku way to deal with a couple clients – both legal and not. Her illegal client of the day had certainly been much more pleasant to deal with than the other. Her client for the firm, had given her plenty of grief. Her supervisor had dismissed her for the day, and the fact he felt the need to do so infuriated her more than the client had. [break][break]
Amongst the cold weather, hair flowing comfortably around her as she could just about taste the nicotine, she found herself ready to let go of the hard day. This bliss lasted only a moment as she pat down her pockets. No lighter? Where did it go? Seiko begins to rummage through her bag, searching every corner and crevice. [break] “Are you fucking with me right now?” She mumbles to herself as she systematically checks her pockets once again. Her eyes flitter into the distance, as she thinks where she last saw it. Her thoughts are soon interrupted, catching herself mindlessly patting herself down, she pauses. Seiko makes a sour face briefly – god she hated being called a kid, made her think of her father – but drops it soon enough. While the expression she replaced it with was still rather cold, it was definitely less hostile. [break][break]
“If I could?” Seiko responds, softer than her face looked. She was tired, and very ready for this smoke. “Thanks. I must’ve misplaced mine,” she says, perhaps a little defeated. Seiko reaches carefully for the lighter, hesitant in taking it to make sure the action was actually permitted. Only in that moment did Seiko really stop to look at the other woman. She was obviously older, as was given away from the term she’d used for Seiko. Just a bit older than her brother, she assumed. There was an expression on her face that rung true to how Seiko felt she must’ve looked. Not the type for random charity, Seiko didn’t think, but interesting given the situation she found herself in. There was something that felt familiar about the older woman. A sense of solidarity perhaps. Seiko was overthinking.
[break][break] “Could I ask for your name? I’m Murakami Seiko,” she asks stiffly, but offers a hand as an introduction. “I really appreciate the lighter. You’re saving me quite a bit of unnecessary stress,” Seiko lightly jokes, chuckling lightly, although not really smiling.
436 w. // here you go! sorry this took soooo long!!
If Seiko wasn’t so cautious all the time, perhaps she would have missed Emile’s fun little emote as Francis made his departure. Glossy lips can’t help but pull into a quick smile, before falling back to their natural stoic state. It’s not the first time Seiko has seen someone express distaste for Francis, but there were very few that expressed it behind a façade of a friendly acquaintance and perceived respect. People were either fooled by his act of confidence or they avoided him at all costs, and were unafraid to make a scene should they be forced to interact. So, it was a little funny to watch Emile struggle not to snicker now that Francis was gone. It made her trust him a little more, knowing that an amount of these friendly interactions wasn’t so much friendly as much as it was bullshit. Francis probably thought Emile respected him, and that thought made Seiko struggle to stifle a chuckle of her own. [break][break]
“Oh absolutely, I think that would be perhaps a little spectacular on our ends. A strangely smooth bilingual conversation... Not to mention, just simply convenient,” Seiko cheers in response, although in the refined way she presents herself. Her tone is definitely a lot more playful, subconsciously aware that Francis wasn’t currently looking over her shoulder. She gladly allows him to take her out to the dance floor. She follows poised, but more relaxed. Her heels click in a more casual confidence with her step, rather than stiff and calculated. Emile didn’t feel particularly intimidating to her, and also not someone she inherently felt an immediate need to debate against. There was enough playfulness, but without being too much, still just refined enough for her to be comfortable to associate with. [break][break]
“Quite honestly, I don’t think it really matters much to me, just make sure to refer to me as Murakami-san around Francis’s family. I don’t want to give them any reason to complain,” Seiko leans in with a cheeky whisper. She complains about them the way anyone would about their in-laws, but chuckles, knowing full well not a whole lot of that is a joke.
[attr="class","yeehaw"]takahashi hikaru / 389 w. / seiko is impatient lmao
[attr="class","wordz"]
She feels a moment of warmth in her chest that bubbles up as a modest chuckle. With a wave of her hand, she dismisses the compliments, not really sure how else to respond. It was almost overwhelming to hear praise. She shouldn’t have been so deprived and desperate for validation, but she can’t help but smile genuinely in return. [break][break]
“You flatter me Takahashi,” she throws out in return. Sweeping lilac strands behind her ear she nods. “But thank you, I appreciate the recognition. Nobody is satisfied with anything these days,” she sighs heavy, but mostly exaggerated. She gestures for Hikaru to wave over the waiter, and waits patiently for her turn. Seiko picks out a savory croissant and a double shot mocha; she could really use the caffeine. She flashes Hikaru a smile once she is done, and she watches his body language. Seiko had a feeling his mind was caught on something. Perhaps it was to do with whatever he wanted from her. She cautious in that moment, thinking about their conversation so far. She absentmindedly taps her nails rhythmically on the table. [break][break]
“It’s been good. I can’t wait to finish university so I can work as an associate rather than an intern, because while I may get to see some pretty cool things, I don’t particularly get a lot of interesting work to do myself. I have so much more to offer, but I suppose I’ll just have to wait,” Seiko pulls herself back from her thoughts when he talks again. She hums pleasantly, accompanied by a little nod. The young woman interlocks her hands, resting her elbows against the table, and looks at Hikaru with thought. [break][break]
“Any particular reason why you’re suddenly so interested with my work at the firm?” Seiko queries him with a sprinkle of faux ignorance to lighten to question. “Not that I mind it, but there’s a reason why we’re meeting years after the last time we saw each other. Right?” She acts calm, not even upset by any means. Seiko wasn’t one to fluff around, she wanted to get straight to the point. She aimed for efficient, not friendly. For Hikaru, she was willing some casual conversation, but it was a little hard to enjoy while the looming question of what he was going to ask for hung over her head.
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MURAKAMI SEIKO
I'd rather watch my kingdom fall. I want it all or not at all
-My boy's being sus and he don't know how to cuss .
[attr="class","yeeheeslideb"]
[attr="class","yeeheetexthold"]
Meeting.
[712 w.][break][break]
When she became entangled with him, he wore a tidy maroon suit, fitted to perfection at Toyosaki Akemi’s birthday party. The half-French boy gave her a charismatic smile. She could still see the flustered pink settled on his cheeks. Seiko was not so foolish as to think the rosey dust he tried to hide behind polite and charming words of conversation had been influenced by her. She felt his attempts at flirting, she humoured him. Seiko knew Francis, even if only in name until then. She could use him to help pull her out of the shadow that her brother’s spotlight cast upon her. [break][break]
“You began your administrative internship earlier this year, didn’t you? How’s that going for you? Miyano-san,” she questioned, genuinely interested. Not in him, she didn’t care for his personality, but in what he had to offer. His flirtation had not gone astray. Seiko returned the favour, aware of how Francis was leading a rather impressive career path. He had ambition, Seiko liked that. Seiko could use that. As hard as she studied, as hard as she worked, in this world one needed a relationship to really work your way up. Independent women? If there was one thing Seiko knew, it was that no one would take her seriously until she had a man by her side to back up what she wanted to say. She felt as though the elder Miyano son understood the professional elements of a relationship and wouldn’t get in the way of what she needed to do. [break][break]
“Hey, don’t go, let’s talk a little longer,” she suggests placing her hand on his bicep and tracing her fingers down his arm. Francis Miyano was a resource too valuable to let go of now that he was before her. Seiko was never good at flirting, but her dress was flattering and with the right words, she was sure she could make something out of this. She couldn’t tell if he was genuinely interested in her or not, but he would stay. “Let me shout you a glass of wine.” [break] [break] [break] [break]
She was wearing a deep purple dress that hugged her small form but accentuated the slightest shapes. The law student was wrapped in luxurious fabrics and her hair sleek, when he approached her. It was Francis’s first reflex to approach the first available - yet worthy - female after his rather flustering and regrettable encounter with his younger brother’s best friend. Ciaran Niall. He didn’t expect the younger man to flirt with him. Francis didn’t realise the redhead was into that kind of thing. Although charming and handsome, Francis would not fall for Ciaran’s tricks. He had to be straight like everyone else. He could convince himself to be with a woman, if she were beautiful enough, he was sure.[break][break] “Murakami Seiko, might I say you look wonderful tonight?” he strikes up a conversation with her. He stands tall, posture straight in hope of appearing more masculine than he really is. “I’m Francis Miyano. Pleasure to finally meet you.”[break] He has to force himself from cringing as she returns his attempts at flirting. As much as Francis wanted to keep anyone from getting the wrong idea - like Ciaran had - it was hard to stomach the concept of a relationship with her. In the end he would have to be with a woman. He needed to be successful in life. Francis would prefer if he could have a relationship with a proper woman, professional and not rebellious like some others he knew. When she asked him to stay a little longer he couldn’t help but smile. If he could get her to agree to a date by the end of the night, he was surely on a good path. [break][break][break][break]
Together they would spend the rest of the night talking, perhaps even if simply because they didn’t want to interact with others. They would lie through their teeth, just in an attempt to seduce the other. The harmony of deceit that played through the two made a connection, however false it may have been. The law student and the administrative intern would become entwined in a doomed relationship with just a few simple words before they parted.[break][break]
“Would you like to go out for coffee some time?”[break][break]
Seiko hears his words loud and clear. She keeps her head down, but flicks her hair to keep it back over her shoulder, out of Shuichi’s way. She doesn’t know what to say at first. She feels lost. She already knows what's wrong with this. She was a lawyer; she knew more than most. As a lawyer, she also knew how to hide it. Nobody had to know, and she could keep using him. She could still get recognition. It would be such a shame for something to happen to the lovely couple. If she made it through tonight, she could make it work. [break]
“Then I’ll make him get better. I’m not done with him yet,” she mostly mumbles to herself. She feels distant from Shuichi. In these moments, she’s disconnected. Her eyes flutter, as she looks at nothing in particular. In her mind, she begins to plan. Thinking about all the various scenarios that would play out from here. [break][break]
Shuichi presses the cloth upon her wound and she feels the pain shoot from her side. It stings the way she expected but still, she grits her teeth as he works. She feels it pull her back into the current moment, and it takes an active effort to not violently vocalize the pain. Her head falls back to rest against the wall behind her. She breathes deep and slow, although still unsteady. [break][break]
“Fuck, I really need to be more careful. I knew this would happen,” Seiko mutters, looking up as she holds herself. She grips at her own body desperately, holding herself together with a pathetic snicker. She stays on that thought for a moment, before looking back to Shuichi, observing what he was doing. [break]
“Do you ever do stupid things just to feel like someone? As unpleasant as they may be, they’re just necessary,” Seiko muses, distracting herself from the pain both in her side and in her mind.
Seiko watches every move he makes. Her eyes jump from movement to movement. She was going to be okay, right? Feeling his hand by her side, she releases her hold on the coat, letting her hands hover shakily. Moving her hands, she looks down with labored breath to see the damage, and gauge Shuichi’s reaction to it. She didn’t have to be a doctor to know it was bad, but she wanted to see just how fucked she was. How out of hand was this starting to get? Was this relationship more than she could handle? Seiko had always known her time with Francis would be a gamble. She knew from the start he’d never have any capacity to love her, but when she had thought that she could use it to her advantage, perhaps she’d miscalculated the risk. [break][break]
“at least enough to get you stable so we can get you to a hospital." [break][break]
“Wait! I can’t go to a hospital like this. There can’t be any kind of record of this,” Seiko cuts in, words slipping out faster than she can think. It feels like she has no control, every moment slips through her fingers and she has no control over it. Without thinking she tries to adjust herself and winces, before taking a breath and letting her hands be returned to her side. Clutching the fabric, violet eyes follow his movements to his bag. [break]
“I can’t afford anyone finding out. If they do, it’s over. I’ll be nothing,” she groans through grit teeth. Her eyes fall, getting lost in the thought. Even if she made it through tonight, what then? What was to happen of her and Francis? How much would the world know? Would things just go back to the way they were before, only to repeat again?
[attr="class","yeehaw"]takahashi hikaru / 292 w. / short again sorry e_e
[attr="class","wordz"]
Seiko hums thoughtfully, listening to Hikaru. Interesting, she thinks, as she traces her fingers down the menu. A manicured nail taps at her choice and she makes a mental note before setting the menu aside. She smiles softly at his playful words. It may have been a half joke, but there was something about being referred to as great that made her a little happy. It wasn’t condescending, and that was refreshing. [break][break]
“Twenty-three as of last year,” she clarifies with a chuckle. “For me, those days of curiosity feel so long ago now. I’ve been caught up with a pretty full schedule in the last year or so,” she jokes with a dreary tone. She mentally thinks over all the things she must do in the near future, and sighs. Life was a lot more hectic these days. Trying to make a name for yourself, to gain recognition as a woman was hard work. [break]
“For the most part, most of my energy has been focused on my studies. Law, obviously. Can’t deny that’s what us Murakami’s do best. Aside from that, I’ve been interning at a firm and been in a relationship for the last few years. Those two things make up the rest of my time,” Seiko explains calmy. She acts cool about it, like it wasn’t a big deal. This was simply all she did. They weren’t quite accomplishments, not yet. There are much bigger things waiting for her yet. Seiko wouldn’t remain mediocre like this forever. [break][break] “I assume you’ve already got your order figured out?” Seiko smiles gently, careful of each movement. She still isn’t quite sure what it is Hikaru wants from her. She wonders if he’ll bring it up, and if he would be straight with her.
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[attr="class","wordz"]Seiko raises her eyebrows, in an attempt to mask the urge to chuckle. It always amused her the flirtatious postures Emile would adorn before Francis. She knew Emile wasn’t quite her partner’s type, but it always amazed her how Francis would navigate these moments. Perhaps it was simply because she’d spent so much time with Francis that she could still see the way men flustered him more than she ever could, no matter how well he covered his tracks. She can feel him stand a little taller, posture up, widen his stance. He so desperately wanted to be the bigger, straighter man. Francis just wanted to be like his father. She had a suspicion he would never make it there. Not the way he’d planned. He already had a ‘secret’ lover, there was no way he would survive marriage.[break]
“Why thank you, Emile. I really owe most of the credit to my suit tailor, but I still feel Sei will always manage to outshine me. You really don’t come across beauty like this every day, do you?” Francis diverts the conversation to emphasising just how attractive he ‘thought’ Seiko was. He smiles at her, and she naturally smiles in return. It had been years of this façade, acting like this came naturally. ‘Nice use of nickname,’ she thinks to herself. It impresses her still how he calculates every word he says. She may not have known every word he said, but she did know that he didn’t mean a single one.
[break][break]
“Would you mind if I stole away your companion for the next dance?” [break][break]
Seiko raises an eyebrow curiously. She had talked to Emile a few times she supposed, but he’d always been more Francis’ conversation partner than her own. Seiko was curious what he wanted from her. Before she moves, she looks at Francis, to gauge how he reacted to the offer. Would he really allow for his date to dance with another man at his family’s party? She can see the moments of calculation on his face but he smiles and gestures for her to take Emile’s hand and he pulls away from her. [break]
“Feel free. I have some others I must greet tonight, so,” Francis turns to Seiko with an expression she could only read as relief. Of course, he would take the first chance he got to avoid touching her. “Go ahead Sei, don’t leave him hanging. Have fun,” he encourages her, switching back to Japanese for her. [break]
“In that case, I’d be happy to,” she accepts, still cautious as she takes Emile’s offered hand. “I’ll see you a bit later, Francis?” Seiko asks him and Francis simply nods before taking off. She watches as he pulls out his phone and heads towards the exit. She hums thoughtfully, having a good feeling who he wanted to say hello too. Francis was going to see him – the only person he couldn’t talk to within sight of anyone else – she was sure. She shakes off the uncomfortable feeling the thought and focuses her attention on Emile. [break][break]
“Please feel free to slip in some French. I may not be confident in my ability to speak it, but I can understand it quite well. I’ve spent my fair share of time with Francis’ family in France,” she assures him as she steps closer, now that she was the actual focus of the conversation. She wasn’t just a side piece now; she could demand more attention.
[attr="class","bocksc"]a bit short but here you go!
[attr="class","words"]
“Miss, are you okay?” [break][break]
Seiko’s breath hitches. Someone had spotted her. This was bad. She remains still, unsure of what to do. Maybe if she didn’t respond, he would just leave. She sat quietly, and hoped he’d just move on. She doesn’t make eye contact, and she doesn’t want to make contact. Fingers brush against her forehead and she flinches. She was going to get hurt. Her eyes quickly snap up to meet with his, breath short as she assesses the situation. This wasn’t Francis. This touch was gentle. There was a care there – a feeling so foreign to Seiko. Who was this man? [break][break]
Shuichi. A doctor. She wonders if this is good or bad. She’s been caught so vulnerable, word could travel, but if she shied away from him, would she die? She was stuck, frozen in her limited options. Digits clutch tightly onto the fabric by her side. Seiko had never been an anxious person in her life, but in this moment, she was a mess. She trembles gently, hesitant to answer him. Violet eyes dart both ways, checking up and down the alley. Empty. There was no one here but her and Shuichi. [break][break]
She searches desperately for the words. What does she tell him? Slipped and fell probably wouldn’t do it this time around. She looks down, looking for the words, but only confronted with memories as she sweats in her panic. Her throat chokes up, and her eyes sting. All she can think about is each hit, each cut. Shrinking into herself a little, Seiko pulls apart her lips, dry and sticky. [break]
“My boyfriend... he,” Seiko is quiet, struggling to push the sounds beyond the place they were stuck in her throat. She shakes her head, before looking up at Shuichi with desperation sparkling amongst the water in her eyes. “He hurt me.”
[attr="class","yeehaw"]@stormking / 356 w. / v v short but here you go!
[attr="class","wordz"]
Being away from her home for days at a time was not a particularly strange occurrence for Seiko. She would regularly spend quite some time at her boyfriend’s apartment. That’d been dating for the last 4 years, it was pretty well expected for them to live together, but she keeps insisting she lives on her own for the convenience of getting to University. School was her top priority, even if others may think it would be more worth her time to focus on her relationship. However, with recent incidents she thought it wise to spend a little more time there to reassure him that she wasn’t going anywhere. She used the façade of caring for him, but realistically she just wasn’t ready to let go of the power that being associated with the Miyano heir gave her.
[break][break]
However, she finally had a day off from work, and she felt that her relationship was stable enough that she could return home and actually spend the day there rather than picking up clothes or textbooks. Seiko was very much excited for some peace and quiet, some time on her own in her home. With a heavy sigh, relieved to come home, she fiddles with her keys to unlock the apartment door. Unfortunately, her plans for some time alone were going to be foiled the moment she stepped inside. Seiko is greeted with the sound of sizzling from her kitchen, and some damn good smells of cooking food. She closes the door behind her quietly and looks around the corner, into her kitchen quietly. Yeah, there was definitely someone in her kitchen, and it certainly was not anyone she knew. Seiko sticks her hand in her bag, clutching onto a pocket knife inside it before rounding the corner. [break]
“Who the fuck are you, and why the fuck are you in my apartment?” Seiko is firm, standing tall. She doesn’t show any signs of fear or concern. “I’ll call the police.” She threatens, standing a good distance from the man. She flips open the knife while it’s still inside her purse, and doesn’t dare take her eyes off of him.
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MURAKAMI SEIKO
I'd rather watch my kingdom fall. I want it all or not at all
[attr="class","yeehaw"]takahashi hikaru / 360 w. / a bit short but here u go!
[attr="class","wordz"]
Seiko had thought it perhaps a little odd when she ran into Hikaru not too long ago. There was something that felt convenient about it – similar to when Francis first approached her some years ago – that she couldn’t quite place her finger on. She hadn’t seen him for a long time, why was she suddenly seeing him now? Seiko hadn’t seen him on campus before. She has no reason to decline him however, so she doesn’t question it aloud. Instead, she gives him her number, and organizes coffee with him. She wonders what he wants, and decides to wait and hear him out. People don’t talk to her unless they want something. [break][break]
So, when Seiko has a day free from class and work, she readies herself for the conversation ahead. It doesn’t take her long to discover that Hikaru retired his career as a cop some time ago - not too long after she stopped seeing him around her father’s work, cooperating on various cases it seemed. She pulls her hair back, and throws on just enough makeup to classify as presentable. Seiko looks a lot more grown up now, no longer a little girl. Instead of dresses and flats she wore blouses and dress pants with heels that would break the average person’s pocket. [break] Seiko strolls into the café, fortunately not too far from her student complex. She looks up at the sound of her name, but cringes slightly at the lack of formality. With a deep breath she walks over with a polite smile, accompanied by a small wave. [break]
“Takahashi-san, good to see you,” she greets a little more carefully than he had, but slides into the seat across the table from him nonetheless. “Thanks for inviting me out.” Seiko settles into her seat, adjusting herself and placing her bag onto the seat space next to her. She picks up the menu, scouting the options briefly before bringing her attention back to him. “What have you been up to recently?” Seiko softens her tone and facials a little, in some attempt to be more casual – match his energy – as difficult as that may be for her to do.
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MURAKAMI SEIKO
I'd rather watch my kingdom fall. I want it all or not at all
Seiko breathed slow, careful. Her body shook, feeling as though her knees would give out beneath her. Yet, she stood still. She said nothing, and she looked straight ahead. She looked at Francis the second he hesitated. He froze as she silently confronted him with what he had done. She watched as he calmed enough to see the damage. Francis cursed to himself under his breath and she flinched, closing her eyes, but once they opened again, he’d locked himself in his room. Letting go of her breath, she panted and looked around for the things she needed to grab as the adrenaline sank in. She needed to get out. There was no way Seiko could spend another second in this apartment. [break]
Getting out of the apartment complex felt like it took days. Aware of every movement, light and shadow, Seiko checked every corner. She cowered at every sound. By the time she’d made it out, her body was heavy. She didn’t dare to linger, but simply checked the lobby of the building once more and snuck away. Seiko shivered, stepping out into the cold and clutched onto the fabric of the long overcoat she kept wrapped tightly around her body. Below hid wounds from her so-called partner, but she couldn’t let anyone see that. They were a perfect couple. Two young adults from affluent families, they were supposed to be a power couple. They were going to be successful. It didn’t matter if they didn’t love each other, together they had the power to achieve things. Seiko needed this relationship to work, and it had worked well enough for the last few years. People wanted to know what she was doing, how she was going. People cared about what Francis Miyano’s girlfriend was doing. They didn’t care enough about the youngest Murakami, but with him, Seiko was someone. She was recognised. [break][break]
So, she walked. She waddled as far and fast as her short and weak legs would allow. It must have been sometime late in the night, perhaps reaching early morning, with the streets only being lightly peppered by activity. She kept her head down and avoided drawing attention. If she could just get home, then she could fix this... maybe. It had never been quite this bad. Seiko breathes in deep and winces, and presses her hand to her side underneath her coat. She felt moisture and cursed under her breath. That was not good. She scouted the area with a quick look, and found an alleyway to tuck herself into for a little privacy. Having slipped away from the main street, she slid down the side of a random building, breathing heavy. Despite the cold, she shrugs off her jacket, leaving her in her pyjama pants and a bra, to check the wound on her side. The bruises and little cuts were no issue, those she could handle on her own. She’d done it for the last two years and practice made perfect. This wound on her side was a little bit bigger than she could patch up with just some cleaning and a bandage. [break]
“Fucking hell Francis. I know you’ve got problems, but this is too much,” Seiko mumbled to herself as she pressed her jacket to her wound. She shakes her head, resting it back against the wall, taking a deep breath. Her throat started to close up, her breath uneven and her eyes stung. She tried to focus her breathing, to keep calm, but it was a bit hard when you start to wonder if you’re about to bleed out on the street because there was no way you could go to a hospital. There would be way too many questions. Seiko was covered in bruises and various nicks, each bleeding slightly but nothing in comparison to the laceration she pressed down on for dear life. Even if she could make it back to her place without passing out, what could she do? [break]
