The Undertow (The Kuroda Yakuza Series Book 2)
Page 22
I gape. The clothing is so different to his usual attire of a neat, black suit. It gives him a regal air. He could be a samurai or a lord from feudal times.
And as I stand beside him in my modern gown, a stark contrast to him, I'm reminded that we're from two completely different worlds.
Kaito notices me staring and raises an eyebrow. "Suits are my work clothes. I wanted to dress up for you, love. Come." He offers me his hand, and we descend down a small flight of steps, to a rooftop garden.
It's a sublime Japanese garden, perfectly manicured, with tiny lights illuminating the way.
"How did you find this place?" I never would have imagined a place like this could exist so high above the concrete streets of Tokyo.
Kaito raises an eyebrow. "I can't reveal all my secrets. But in my line of work, I've formed some unusual connections." Again, with that air of subtle amusement.
"A man of mystery," I remark, also teasing.
He leads me through the garden, and we pass a shimmering koi pond, nestled amongst neatly pruned bushes and polished stones.
At the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the city, there's a low Japanese table with cushioned seats. It's on a raised platform covered in woven reed mats. Kaito offers his hand as I slip off my shoes. He does the same, removing a pair of wooden sandals. He wears a pair of white socks with a split between the first and second toes.
Then, he escorts me to my seat, holding it out for me. I arrange myself on the cushioned surface with my legs tucked to one side.
Such a damn gentleman.
To me, who has grown up in brash, modern Los Angeles, the authenticity of his outfit, the attention to detail, right down to the socks, is captivating. And tonight, he seems different. It's as if the harsh reality of his daily existence, which has merged with mine, is suddenly a distant memory.
For the first time in so long, he seems completely at ease.
It's just the two of us, high above a luminous sea.
He slides in opposite me, sitting cross legged.
There's an old fashioned ceramic carafe and some small sake cups on the table. Kaito pours me a drink. Then he raises his own in a little toast. "Thank you," he says, all remaining hardness melting from his face.
"For what?" I do the same, our cups meeting with a soft clink.
"For coming here, even though I warned you away. If you hadn't been here with me, things might have turned out differently."
I choose not to think about that possibility. I sip my sake slowly, savouring the subtle flavor of honey and the way it warms my insides. "You should know by now that I'm not going to shy away from anything your world throws at me, Kaito. I may be just a simple California girl from the suburbs, but where you're concerned, I'm game. I'll admit, what you do and the people you're involved with scare the shit out of me, but I trust you. And I don't believe you're as bad as you think you are."
He gives me an odd look, eyes slightly narrowed, a cryptic expression crossing his face. "This isn't my Japan, you know." He gestures around him at the setting, at his clothes. "This is formal, refined, traditional. I didn't grow up with any of this. But I wanted to do it for you, because so far, you've only seen the ugliness, not the beauty of my country."
"Thank you. It's just perfect," I whisper. "But it's not true that I've seen only ugliness." I shake my head slowly. Because even darkness can hold beauty. The artistic part of me looks for the goodness in even the most wretched things. It's always there, if one looks hard enough.
Kaito's still looking at me with that strange expression. His gaze is bottomless and intense. "You're not an ordinary woman, Adele Sullivan," he says. "And, if you'll allow me, I want to keep you."
"Keep me?" My heart flutters. I can't take my eyes off Kaito. Against the mesmerizing backdrop of the city below, he cuts an austere figure in his dark grey robes. Every movement he makes, every gesture, is characterized by a sense of purpose and control. That's how he always is. Hard to read, appearing cold to those who don't know him well. But his dark, smouldering gaze holds deep, complex emotion.
And, as always, when he looks like me like that, I'm swept away.
But I need to know something. "So what about your life here? What about your ties to Kuroda and your promise to Erika? Because even though I've seen what you do, I can't live like that forever. And I don't think you can either. I think there's a part of you that hates yourself a little bit, for what you do."
Kaito takes a deep breath. "What do you need me to do?" When he asks that question, for the first time ever, I catch a hint of vulnerability.
"I need you to figure out a way to leave that life." I reply, without hesitation, without fear. Because, deep down, I know that's what he wants too. But I don't think he ever thought it could be possible.
If I'm the one who's going to convince him to do the impossible, then so be it.
For a while, he says nothing, and I start to wonder if I'm asking too much. But I need to hold firm. Otherwise, he's lost. And so am I.
Kaito downs the rest of his sake and puts his cup on the table with a decisive flick of his wrist. "Actually, I've been thinking about that for a while. And I've decided that I'll do everything in my power to make it happen. I promise." He holds out his hand across the table, palm up, beckoning to me. "So. Will you?"
I go still as a gentle night breeze swirls around us, fluttering the sleeves of Kaito's jacket. Framed against the astounding backdrop of the city below, it's as if he's become part of a surreal painting. And he's asking me to join him.
A shiver runs down my spine.
I look down at his hand, and realise there's something shiny on his palm.
Holy hell. Is that what I think it is?
A ring winks back at me.
And just like that, the bottom drops out from under my reality, and again, I'm floating. This seems to be happening way too often these days.
It sparkles in the dim light, perfectly symmetrical and round and topped with a rock that's bigger than any diamond I've seen in my life.
My hands fly to my mouth as I gasp. I can't help it.
The man has outdone himself this time.
Trembling, I reach for him, placing my hand on his. There's no hesitation. Because even though our life together isn't ordinary, and Kaito's existence is colored with violence, I've always known that I wouldn't have it any other way.
I've never been one to over-analyse. I just go with what feels right.
It's worked for me so far.
He takes my slender fingers into his rough, callused hands. His strong, lean fingers make mine look small in comparison.
He pauses, as if suddenly unsure of himself. "May I?"
I nod, unable to speak. In a gentle, deft movement, he slides the ring onto my finger.
It fits perfectly. This man knows me too well, even down to my ring size.
I turn my hand over, admiring the way the light transforms the gemstone, each facet shimmering with its own hue.
Cold, hard and crystal clear, it takes light to bring the diamond to life.
I look up and see the corners of Kaito's mouth curl upwards into a little, serene smile. For just a moment, the world we've left behind beneath us is forgotten, and we're just a man and a woman who happen to be in love.
Ah, shit. There, I said it.
"I'll protect you from all that," he says softly, as if reading my thoughts. "No matter what it takes."
"Same here," I reply.
"What can you protect me from?" The question seems harsh, but his eyes are gentle.
"Yourself." The word is carried away on the breeze, barely more than a whisper, but he understands.
Oh, he understands all too well.
He needs me, just like I need him. We're bound together now, for better or worse. And it's both terrifying and exhilarating.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Kaito
I study her face as she looks down at the ring. A riot of emotion plays across her features, and she
doesn't even realize it.
She expresses herself without any need to feel fear or hide or pretend to be someone she's not.
I love that about her.
For a moment there, I was fucking nervous.
There's not much in this world that can make me nervous, but when I showed her the ring, a small part of me was terrified.
She has that much power over me, that she can do that to a man like me, who once feared nothing, not even death.
But she didn't hesitate, not even for a second.
And now, I feel complete.
She shows me a sweet little smile, the one I've realized she reserves only for me, as she moves her hand around, letting the light hit the diamond at different angles.
I take a moment to admire her. The dress I bought her fits like a glove, leaving her shoulders bare. Her hair is all swept up, exposing her elegant neck, which I find unbearably sexy to look at.
I'm always on the edge of arousal when she's with me.
It's too much.
And I realize, there and then, that I will do anything to protect her.
Anything.
And I will never let her become tainted with the filth of my past, of my world, ever again. She has no place amongst the Kuroda-kai. She's far too good for that.
I've made many enemies in my line of work. I probably don't even know half of them. And now predators like Erika Goto and Osamu Genda are breathing down my neck, and I've signed my life away to the Kuroda-kai, again.
I've been careless. Power has changed hands, and I haven't done enough to safeguard myself. Because before I met Adele, I simply didn't care.
Now, everything is different.
"What is it, Kaito?" Adele's low, honey-dipped voice brings me back to reality.
"Nothing," I lie, hoping to fool her.
But she knows me too well. "You've got that distant look on your face again. Stop worrying about those things."
How can I not worry?
But I don't want to burden her with these kinds of thoughts.
She doesn't need to know the lengths I'll go to to keep her safe. That I'm going to start mapping a way out of the Kuroda-kai for myself, even if it means that I have to kill every fucking last one of them.
Even if it means I have to become a monster again.
Sometimes, change has to be brutal.
But she doesn't need to know about that. I've already caused her enough trouble, and it's time to go home.
This trip has made me realize something. Tokyo isn't my home anymore.
"You know, Araki isn't my original surname." I tell her, becoming a little bit lost in her honey-gold eyes.
They widen a fraction, in surprise. "Erika said something about that. I wasn't sure what she meant."
"When I moved to America, I chose the name 'Araki' for myself, because it means 'new tree.'"
"I like it," she replies. "And when I understand the meaning behind it, it's even more special."
"But it's not my real name."
"It is now. I don't care about your reasons for changing, or what you were called before. To me, you're Kaito Araki."
It's all I need. She doesn't care about my name, or the one I went by before. A thought occurs to me; something I want to share with her. "You know, I went by the house today. That old, shrivelled maple in the courtyard has new shoots."
"Oh," her face lights up with delight. I love that even simple things like that can make her happy.
"Because you watered it."
She shakes her head in wonder. "It just needed a little care."
"I've found a caretaker for the place. To continue what you started. The house shouldn't fall into disrepair." After all, it holds too many memories.
But it's not my home anymore. I take her warm, slender fingers into mine. "So, shall we?"
"Shall we what?"
"Go home."
Her hand curls around mine as she nods. They might appear delicate, but her fingers feel strong and firm as she grabs my hand. Then, impulsively, she pulls me across the table, her lips meeting mine in a slow, sensuous kiss.
"Let's go home," she agrees.
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