The next day, as promised, Makoto drove Mafuyu to her old place to collect her things.
"Don't worry, I will go in with you," he said, grasping her hand as they exited the car. Mafuyu's hand in his was cold and trembling. She looked up at the apartment building, a generic block of concrete and glass, and a shiver ran through her.
"Okay," she whispered. "Okay. Let's go."
The key trembled so badly in her hand that she could barely find the keyhole. He steadied her hand with his, a small gesture of support that seemed to give her a flicker of courage.
The door opened with a soft click.
The apartment was clean, sterile, and devoid of any personality. It looked like a showroom, a place where no one actually lived. And in the middle of the living room, sitting on a sleek leather couch, was Tatsuya.
Unlike last night, he wasn't tied up or gagged. He was just sitting there, dressed in a simple black suit. His hair was neatly combed, his face was a mask of calm. He looked up as they entered, and a slow smile spread across his face.
"Hello, Mafuyu," he said, his voice a soft purr that was more chilling than any shout. "I've been waiting for you." He looked at Makoto, his eyes as cold and dead as a shark's.
"Back from that hotel already? I bet you got a memorable birthday, mister ex-boyfriend," Makoto snorted, grasping Mafuyu's hand.
Tatsuya's smile didn't waver. It was a perfect mask of calm. "Oh, it was more than memorable," he said softly. "It was educational." He didn't even look at Makoto. His eyes, cold and possessive, were fixed on Mafuyu.
He looked at Makoto's hand, clasped around hers, with a flicker of something that might be amusement. "Are you here to collect your things and return your key?" he said gently, almost chiding.
"But my dear, all of your things are right here." He gestured around the sterile apartment. "This is our home. I had it cleaned this morning, waiting for your return."
He stood, his movements slow and deliberate. He was no longer a broken man, but a predator who had just finished a very long nap. "And as for the key," he added, his voice too sweet. "Keep it. A woman should always have a key to her own home."
He took a step forward them both. And Mafuyu, who had been trembling, became a statue. Makoto's hand, which had been a comfort, was now her only anchor in a world that was suddenly spinning out of control. She made a small, choked sound. "...Tatsuya..."
"She is not yours anymore," Makoto stepped forward, covering her. "He can't hurt you anymore, Mafuyu!"
Tatsuya just laughed. His laugh, soft and chilling, echoed in the sterile silence of the apartment. "Hurt her?" he repeated, amused. "My dear boy, I have never, and would never, hurt a hair on her precious little head."
He took another step closer, his eyes still fixed on Mafuyu. "She's just... a little clumsy," he explained, his voice reasonable, just like his usual gaslighting. "She bruises easily, she's so fragile."
He looked at Makoto, something like pity in his eyes. "You should be more careful with her. She's a delicate flower."
He was so close now that Makoto could smell his expensive, cloying cologne. "Little boy," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Get your filthy, peasant hands off of my property." He ignored Makoto and turned to Mafuyu. "And I want you," he said, his smile twisting into fury. "To come home. Now."
Makoto could feel it. The fragile woman he had just spent the last twenty-four hours putting back together was shattering, right here in his hands. He ignored Tatsuya's gaze and smirked, then turned to hug Mafuyu.
"You're not his property, not anymore, Mafuyu. Are you going to spend all your life like that?" he whispered. "Speak for yourself. If you keep hesitating, I will... hmm, I will tickle and chew your butt when we go back."
The threat, so absurd and inappropriate, but utterly Makoto, was a bucket of ice water in the face of Mafuyu's spiraling terror. Her breath, which had been short and shallow, hitched. A small sound, a cross between a sob and a laugh, tore from her throat.
The trembling in her hands didn't stop, but it changed. No longer the tremor of fear, it turned to a tremor of fury.
She pushed herself away from Tatsuya slightly. Then she took a deep, shuddering breath before looking at him. Really looked at him. And for the first time in a very long time. She saw him for what he was: Just a small, pathetic little man.
"No," she whispered, her voice raw but strong.
Tatsuya's smile faltered. "What did you say?"
"I said no," Mafuyu repeated, her voice louder and clearer now. "I'm not coming back. This is not my home." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the key he had given her. With a deliberate motion, she placed it on the table. "And this is the last time you will ever see me."
Tatsuya's face shattered. "You... you fucking whore," he snarled. The calm, sophisticated facade had vanished, replaced by raw, ugly rage. He took a step towards Mafuyu, his hand raised.
But Makoto was already there. He moved with a speed he didn't know he possessed, like a blur of motion. He didn't throw a punch or do anything dramatic. He just stood there between them, acting like a wall, a barrier that Tatsuya can't cross.
"She's not yours anymore," Makoto said, his voice a low, flat monotone that was more chilling than any shout. "And you're not going to touch her ever again."
Mafuyu, who had flinched back with a small whimper, froze. She saw Makoto standing there, protecting her. "Just like you promised..." She thought, as a slow smile spread across her face. And then, she turned, and without a second glance, she walked towards the bedroom.
"That's my girl," Makoto turned his head and gave Mafuyu another peck on her lips. "Go and collect your things, and I will deal with him here."
They were left in the living room. A silent, tense standoff between a young guy and a broken man.
Tastuya just stared at Makoto, his mouth slightly open. And then, he did something Makoto didn't expect. He started to laugh, a low, bitter sound.
"You have no idea what you've just done, boy," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "She's not a delicate flower like what she seems. She's a black widow, and she'll eat you alive."