A Demon's Lapse

Nora couldn't help but worry about Kiyohira. Not because she liked him or anything. It was morning and after getting ready, Nora made the bed. Matsuda didn't want her to be on the couch the night of the attack so he told the maid to allow her to stay in her quarters.

Matsuda entered the room, "The boss wants to see you."

She wondered what Kiyohira wanted. Was he going to yell at her about breaking things in his house? Or maybe about something else. It didn't matter since she felt queasy at the thought of seeing him. Nora followed Matsuda upstairs where she had never been before. He stopped outside a door and gestured toward it.

Nora entered the master bedroom and saw Kiyohira, sitting upright against the headboard. He was shirtless and she saw his muscular chest and was covered in scars. He had a big scar that went across his pectorals. She wondered what kinds of things this man had gone through in life.

Shaking those thoughts away, she spoke shyly, "You wanted to see me?"

"What were you thinking? You could've gotten yourself killed," Kiyohira barked. "I had everything under control," he continued, "and not just that you destroyed my property!"

Nora could not believe what she was hearing. Here he was scolding her. The least he could do was thank her.

She was never one to back down from unfair treatment so she said, "You know what? You're welcome! I saw you on the verge of death, you didn't have anything under control! I'm sorry I destroyed your things but I did it to save you!"

Nora then covered her mouth with both hands, realizing she just flew off the handle. Kiyohira's expression widened. She was right. He didn't know how to be grateful. It was quiet for a while, neither of them looked at each other.

"Why did you help me," he asked.

Yes, why? Nora struggled to come up with the words but realized she just needed to be sincere.

"I can't let someone die if there's something that I could do about it. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hadn't because the guilt would always haunt me. It had nothing to do with you," she said.

Those last words tugged on Kiyohira's heart. He was no one to save.

"I will let your sister go, you may contact her" he told her.

Nora looked at him, with justified skepticism.

"Really," she asked. Her eyes lit up with joy.

He nodded, "I could also accept another request as long as it's within reason."

"I also want to be in another room, with a bigger window,"

Kiyohira bit his tongue and nodded.

"Can I go outside for walks?"

He grumbled, "I've already honored your first request, that's enough."

"Please and I swear I won't ask for more, please," Nora put her hands together.

He gritted his teeth and rolled his eyes, "Fine."

Nora was overjoyed.

"Thank you," she smiled at him.

She quickly looked down because she felt awkward being giddy around him. Kiyohira blushed and looked away. He called for Matsuda to show her to her new room.

The new room was also on the second floor and had two windows. One showed the forest and the other the ocean. It was huge with a queen bed, a bureau, an armoire, and a desk. It also had its own bathroom with a jacuzzi and separate shower. She felt better here, not claustrophobic like the last one she was in. She immediately went over to the phone on the nightstand.

"Hello," Rosario picked up. It was wonderful to hear her big sister's voice again.

"Hey sis, it's me," Nora answered, crying. Rosario cried too. She was relieved to hear from her. The past week had been torture for them both. Nora told her everything.

"Rosie, I need you to explain what happened," asked Nora.

Rosie was silent. She felt so ashamed.

Rosie had met this Nakano fellow at a gala that she was catering at a few weeks ago. He had told her that he was just an international businessman. After that they went out on a few dates but nothing serious came about it. However, Rosie caught feelings. The day that Nora was kidnapped she got a threatening phone call asking for Nakano's whereabouts. Confused as to what was happening, she tried to get in touch with him but his phone was disconnected. She didn't even know where he lived. It was as if he never existed.

"So you haven't heard from him since," asked Nora.

"No, he just abandoned me and then you went missing. I eventually came back to our place. Gorland told me that some guys were after you. I was so worried," Rosie began to cry again.

She continuously apologized for putting Nora through all of this.

"Stop it," said Nora, "you're my sister and I love you. You raised me and helped me all my life. I'll never accept your apologies, okay?"

Rosario wiped her tears away, "You're too good for this world, Nora, I'm blessed to have you as my sister."

Before they knew it, hours had gone by.

Rosario asked, "What do we do now?"

"I don't know. Just take care of yourself okay? I will keep in touch with you even if I don't leave this place," Nora replied with tears welling up in her eyes.

They ended their conversation in relief but also sadness because they weren't together. Nora just sat on the bed and watched the sun sink into the ocean, just like how she felt her heart do.

Kiyohira worked on his laptop in bed. Putting it aside, he gently massaged his eyes and thought about Nora and the way she smiled at him. It had been a long time since he saw such a lively expression on someone. All he knew in life was anger and hatred so having such a display irritated him to his core. The last time he saw someone smile like that was his mother. She had a beautiful voice.