Fuck the mobile– it was not important. Reon crumbled into Hitori's arms, dug her face deep in his chest, and started weeping.
Hitori was surprised by the murder he was less expecting– he was not even expecting the murder– it was a total surprise. He could not imagine killing Onogi's cousins because he failed to kill him– that was pure cruelty.
"When did it happen?" he said.
Reon clenched Hitori's forearm and grunted, "Why does it matter? It happened, that is it. How did it happen and who did it, is what matters… Hitori…" Her voice broke and she wept for the next few minutes.
Hitori pulled her to the ground and sat in the dirt and mud without caring much about his pants. He had trouble handling Reon's weight, and more trouble handling her touch.
"Why Hiroshi? Why my brother? W-why?" she asked, clenching Hitori's forearm tighter than before.
"Only Onogi can tell us so," he said. He was sure the killer was Onogi– he had Reon's brother under him since the start– even tortured him– but now he had crossed the line.
Besides, Tengoku was in front of him today, no way he could have killed Hiroshi. And he needed as many men as possible with him tonight, so sending an assassin was out of options too.
"That bastard!" she shouted, exerting her anger on Hitori's forearm as if it was a stress ball. Thank god, she did not have long nails like the other girls, so she would have pierced his skin forever ago.
"You are hurting me…" he said in a deliberate weak voice, hoping she would let go.
"I need to go back, Hitori." She pushed herself away from him and looked into his eyes. "Back to my house, I need to go."
Hitori stared at her for a while– wondering how could she say that even after her father's warning. How can she just ignore the danger and go back? For what? For a dead person?
Oh, he was not letting her schedule HER funeral just for being at her brother's funeral. He shook his head. "No, you are not going back. Fight me if you want, but I am not letting you go."
Those words must have sounded corny to her– or he would have at least sounded desperate, which he was, for not letting her go.
To his surprise, she dropped her head and nodded. "Of course, you would not let me go," she said, "I knew you would not, but I wanted to try…"
"Well tried." Hitori let go of her shoulders and got off the ground. Then he offered his hand for Reon to take.
She took his hand and released it right after she got off the ground. She had already made Hitori enough uncomfortable, she refrained from pushing her luck.
Hitori grabbed the mobile off the ground and raised it above his head. The bar appeared when it caught a signal. Hitori handed the phone to Reon.
"Make a call," he said, "ask your father about the details. How and who and where. Then ask where he is– he must be in the hospital, but you still need to confirm it."
Reon nodded and accepted the phone and dialed her father's number. After the second ring, her father picked up the call and sounded distressed. Hitori could hear him panting, just how close was he holding the mobile? "Reon," he said, "gd, why did you hang up? Don't you dare hang up on me! I was scared and worried about you—"
"Dad, Dad, I am alright." Reon had a grip on herself. He knew from the tone of her voice– it was strong and missing hesitations.
"How do I know you are alright? How? First your brother, then who knows what…"
"I am just alright. I am here with my friend, Hitori. And he is a good man, Dad, good enough to take care of—"
"A boy? What are you doing there, Reon? Is that why you went there? Just what kind of business are you involved in? Did Hiroshi die because of you?"
With all the questions shot at her, she was messed up. She did not how to answer and what to answer first. "Reon, let me talk to him…" Hitori asked for the mobile.
"Let me deal with this first," she said and answered her father, "I am not alone. I am with Hitori's family– they are good to me. Eya-nee is like my elder sister, Kakashi just keeps the family safe, and so does Hitori's uncle. He even has a brother who is younger than me. And yes," she said, "to answer your last question– yes. Hiroshi died because of me."
Hitori's eyes widened. He staggered back with his eyes fixed on Reon. "A-Are you sure about that?"
"I already said it, Hitori. I can not turn back now." Then she looked at the phone in her hand. "And I am here to avenge him. Please do not contact me anymore. I might die avenging Hiroshi, but you do not need to—"
"Are you out of your fucking out of your mind? Has that boy washed your brain? They are wizards! They can—"
"Ask him about your brother," Hitori said.
Reon nodded. "D-Dad, where is Hiroshi?"
"In heaven, I suppose."
"Is he in the hospital?"
He laughed. "Yes, of course, I will tell you. How do I even know you are my daughter and not the murderer?"
Hitori flunked the mobile out of her hand and held it in front of his mouth. "We are nothing like you have stereotyped us, sir. Reon is a good friend to me, and it is nothing like you think."
"Who are you?"
"Hitori. Saibai Hitori. The friend of your daughter, and her well-wisher." He barely knew what nonsense he was sprouting. "I do not care if you believe me or not, but I will keep your daughter safe– I can not let another friend of mine die… I just can not…"
"What is your age? What business are you dealing with? Why have you involved my daughter in your dangerous business?"
"Stay safe, ask for protection, and stay away from Onogi Masao. And no one involved your daughter– we met in a game, and that is our business."
Hitori ended the call and handed Reon the mobile. She glanced between her mobile and Hitori.
"What did you do? Damn!"
"Sorry, I could not… control it." Control? Why did he have to control it anyway? "Come on, we need to tell them about your brother. And prepare to leave."
"Leave? Where?"
Hitori turned to the lair's opening. "To see Hiroshi."
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