(BL) Mafia Love; He who falls the hardest loses-Chapter 160: Paid Price

"Thanks. I will have Kiyoshi contact you for the plans ahead," Haruki said glancing down at his wrist watch. He would have to leave soon to attend his aunt’s funeral.

She bowed slightly.

Haruki felt guilty over the death of his aunt. He remembered his aunt’s invitation to eat brunch with him. She was the only one who loved him and took care of him through his childhood after his parents’ deaths.

She was like a diamond among so many filth disguised as adults in his life. She had worked hard for her family even when the money his parents left him could easily make her life easier.

She kept greed far away and used the money on him alone. She made sure he was well-dressed and had the best available school supplies. She worked too hard to spend time with him but when she saw him, she was kind and smiled warmly at him.

Even if he had not escaped with his grandfather’s help, he was certain that she would have done all in her power to ensure life was easy for him.

It had gotten a bit dark when Haruki arrived at the funeral home. He had wanted to arrive earlier as a family member maybe even participate in the logistics but Kiyoshi had dissuaded him from doing it.

He arrived late instead when the wake was almost over. Haruki stepped from the car in the middle of two other cars when the door was opened for him. He didn’t want so many men present but Kiyoshi had also insisted on the need.

When he walked into the hall, he saw his cousins. The whole scene reminded him of that night two decades ago. Just like it had rained on the night his parents died, it also rained on the night of their wake. He had also cried so much.

So many whispers of pity from the guests who were his parents’ colleagues and a few neighbours worrying about how a little kid like him would survive alone without his parents both of whom seemed to be orphans but his aunt had stepped in.

She had mopped his tears with a soft handkerchief fed him just like his mother used to and pat his back rhythmically when she wanted him to sleep.

He walked in followed by Kiyoshi while his other guards remained outside the room. He offered incense and bowed deeply showing the pure respect her felt towards the woman who had tried her best to selflessly replace his parents.

She asked for nothing in return and thanks to his selfishness, he shut her out of his life. He turned to his cousins and their wives and gave them a slight bow.

They didn’t deserve it as neither of them had respected their mother when they were young but hated her because she had brought him in but he gave them the bow.

"Wait and eat before you leave," his eldest cousin got closer to him and said in a low voice.

It was not difficult to see how timid he was towards Haruki with the way his shoulder bent forward and his cautiousness with every move he made.

Haruki met his gaze calmly and glanced at the sitting area.

"I will have them cover all the expenses of the funeral," Haruki said in response.

The man’s head bowed even deeper than it already was and he shook his head. "You do not have to concern yourself with it, you have done a lot for our family," he replied hastily but maintaining that cautious volume. "A lot more than we deserve."

Haruki wanted to see the man’s expression when he said the last sentence but the man’s head was bowed making all he saw his receding hairline. He replayed the man’s words over in his mind as though searching for the sarcasm, the mockery in his voice but he could find nothing.

Remembering his aunt had died innocently because of him and although they might not noticed the connection to Haruki, he still felt guilty towards his aunt. "I will cover the expenses," Haruki replied firmly. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Thank you sir," his cousin immediately stepped back and bowed deeply to Haruki. The person who had hit him hard until he bled more than a decade ago was bowing so deeply to him.

He wondered why he had spent years building so much resentment towards the world. Where had he gotten his bloodlust from? He played it on his mind repeatedly as he sat down to eat. The meal he missed with his aunt could not be replaced this way but this was all he could do now.

Was all endured enough to grow the hate he grew towards his past? His aunt’s death reminded him of all that happened and how much he might have exaggerated it.

After more than a couple of years trained by Ren, he had hated the life he lived and everyone involved. What should have been healing getting away from the painful past had magnified all he experienced and created more pain than necessary.

He moved his chopsticks lost in thought. Life should not have been as cold as he chose to make it yet he chose and walked down that road for years until it had become a part of himself.

To think he was once someone who smiled through the pain he experienced then and even felt pure joy among all the hate he got and now when his smiles should have been brighter, he fell in love with the violence and the scent of blood.

A sad smile lifted the corners of his cheeks and he could not hold back a heavy sigh. How many lives has he taken indirectly, how many has he brought to the brink of death with his hands? How many innocent people he loved died innocent?

Seeing Haruki had almost finished the meal he was served, Kiyoshi rose to get him more. He could see that Haruki wanted to stay longer. The wake was almost over when they arrived and most of the guests had gone and some were getting ready to leave.

Haruki whose mind was clouded with painful, clarifying thoughts, continued to eat what his assistant brought.

His cousins came to Haruki just when he emptied his plates. Kiyoshi had not brought more because he felt Haruki had eaten a lot already.

The eldest took the lead and they went on their knees. Haruki raised his head to look at them before looking around the room, all the guests were gone and only his cousin’s wife and child were left.

"We are sorry about what we did," they apologised in unison.

Haruki’s aunt had apologised for them when Haruki became chairman. She had almost gone on her knees but Haruki stopped her and accepted the apology.

"Did she ask you to apologise?"

"She told us to wait until she dies to meet you in person," the eldest replied.

"We have always wanted to apologize but she told us to respect your boundaries and stay away from you," the younger one replied with his head bowed.

"What we did was pure wickedness. We were unnecessarily jealous and treated you unkindly. If you want to punish us, we will gladly take the punishment."

Haruki sighed and shook his head. He felt none of that pure resentment. The resentment he felt when he saw the class rep was gone too and all he was left was a realisation he wished he could erase.

"It won’t look good if I choose to hold grudges, right?" Haruki asked, a hint of irony and tiredness in his voice.

"No, we deserve it a hundredfold."

Haruki shook his head. "I have forgiven you," he replied. He wondered if his aunt knew her death would be connected to him making them use her death as a bargaining chip to gain his forgiveness. Her death weighed even more than what they did to him.

She was simply an innocent woman who got hit by a stray. Seeing that he was done eating, Haruki placed his chopsticks down and rose up. He buttoned the jacket of his black suit.

He saw his aunt’s grandson sleeping in his mother’s arms. The woman rose up hastily and bowed to Haruki causing the boy to steer in her arms.

As Haruki walked out, she rocked the boy in her arms gently patting his back to soothe him.

During the drive home, Haruki told Kiyoshi firmly, "I will arrive early to attend the funeral tomorrow."

If the woman who was not directly related to Haruki’s father had treated him better than some parents would treat their child, it was only right that he arrive early enough to participate fully in the funeral.

Kiyoshi hesitated but had to reply, "Yes sir."

***

Hiroshi rubbed his eyes tiredly after shutting down his laptop, the words and pictures on the file his lawyer sent him were just too much to believe.

His heart raced but in fear and happiness. Haruki had pushed him away to protect him. That caused a warm feeling in his chest.