FAREWELL

Dappled sun shone through the trees, creating mysterious shadows. The roads shimmered in the heat of the midday sun. The sky was an expanse of sapphire blue, dotted with feathery white clouds as the radiant rays of the sun shone brightly in the azure blue sky.

Driving down the long road, Sumire's gaze darted outside watching the horde of birds flying to the Southeast and the chorus of melodic birdsong drifted in. Smiling from ear to ear, the maiden couldn't ask for than this moment.

"What do you think our baby will be? a girl or a boy?" Gaze turn to the hunk, Sumire asked smilingly while her fingers intertwined with his right hand.

Mort's left hand was holding the steering wheel. The hunk brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it which made her heart flutter. They both headed to the hospital where Sumire will have her first ultrasound. The weather is beautiful and windy. It's just perfect.

It was a cool and breezy afternoon. A strong gust of wind blew against her face from the open window. After knowing she bears his child, Mort had become more possessive and took extra care of her.

"Boy." Eyes darted on the road, Mort responded and then tightened his grip on Sumire's hand. The maiden rubbed her tummy gently.

"What would you name it if the baby is a boy?" The maiden asked again and Mort thought for a few seconds before answering.

"I can't think of a name for now but I will still like whatever name is given to our baby," Mort replied trying his best to think of a name for their child. Sumire flashed a smile.

"I have thought of something but it's a secret for now," Sumire replied, deeply staring at her beloved man sitting next to her. The sweet smile still lingered on her lips.

"Where do you want to live?" Mort asked in a serious tone. Sumire's smile gradually faded on her face.

She wanted to say something to him, but she is afraid they will end up arguing or worst fighting. Sumire wants him to quit being a Mafia Lord and live a normal life away from the world Mort grew up in, but he doesn't want to hurt the man, especially since Sumire knows very well that Mort has been doing this all his life. His cruel world shapes his personality.

The maiden knows that it will be difficult for Mort to do what she wants but she is worried now that they will have a child, everything might become more complicated and chaotic for him. She might not only lose Mort, but their child too. Sumire trusts Mort but she knows how brutal the Underground world is.

"Sumire, are you okay?" Mort asked worriedly, slightly squeezing the maiden's hand to get her attention. Although she was looking at him, her focus was not on him. She seemed to be thinking deeply.

"I'm fine," Sumire replied with a smile but Mort was not convinced.

"You are not. Tell me." Mort said almost in a commanding tone. Sumite gritted her teeth as she tried not to tell Mort what she wanted.

"I am listening," Mort added making the maiden release a deep sigh and lowering her head.

"I want you to leave the Underground. I want you to leave everything that has a connection there that could harm you and our baby. I don't want to lose you both." Those words barely came out of Sumire's lips.

Her heart even skips a few beats. She sounded unsure of what she said. Her heart and mind agreed for the very first time. This is it. She had to finish what she started to say. She might not be ready to argue with Mort, but she had to deal with the conversation she started. And whatever the outcome of this conversation is, she will accept it.

"Sure." It was short and quick, Mort responded which made the maiden freeze in her seat. It was as if he answered her without having a second thought.

"Are you sure about this?" Sumire asked and looked up at him. Her heart accelerated at what she heard.

It was a mix of an unknown sting and she didn't even feel any joy. The maiden feels that she is becoming greedy and Mort was selfless, feeding her selfish side.

"Yes," Mort answered without hesitation as if he was certain of his answer. And it seems to him what she asked for is a big thing to him.

"You're leaving the world you grew up in because I said so and I want to, right?" Sumire said as her nose and the corner of her eyes started to redden. She seemed to be on the edge of crying.

"Everything. Anything. For you." Mort determinedly replied. Sumire bites her lower lip to prevent herself from bursting into tears.

"You will do it because I want to but how about you? What about what you want?" Sumire asked in a shaking tone. Mort stopped and parked the car on the side of the scythe road. Some cars were passing by.

"If you want to live a normal life then I want it too. My answer might sound half-assed to you but I meant it. You don't need to overthink everything." Mort said he cupped her face with his one palm making one tear roll on her cheek.

Mort pulled her into his embrace and tilt his head to capture her lips. Sucking, biting gently her upper and lower lip, it aroused her. His kisses feel surreal as if the two of them are focused on each other and the rest of the world blurs around her. Her knees go weak, her whole body goes limp.

Groaning on their locked lips, the hunk pulled the back of her neck to deepen the kiss. Suddenly, an unknown tinted black van crashed into their car. With the great impact, the glass shatters, and the sound of squealing tires echoes throughout the place.

It happened so fast and none of them expected it. In just a blink of an eye, their car turned upside down. Mort who protected and shielded her using his massive frame, releases Sumire's lips who immediately lost consciousness from the impact.

After the crash, an extreme silence like a piercing sound echoed in his ear. It’s loud and disorienting. Everything becomes still and quiet right after the impact. The maiden left unbruised from the crash but Mort noticed the blood pouring out of his noggin. He had injuries on his elbow and hands.

"Should I going to crash their car once more? What if the second time I crash them, Mort's bullet is already buried in my head? Hmmm... nah, it should be enough warning for them to know that as long as they live they will never be happy ."

The mysterious man laughed wickedly and left the crime scene he had started. He knows Mort won't die from what he did though he doesn't care what happens to Sumire. The important thing is that he kills his loathed mortal enemy.

"We're just getting started." The man added and whistled in the air.

Mort immediately called Klauss who answered immediately and was on his way. After he made a call, he destroyed the door of the driver's seat with his hand covered in blood and now holding with a gun. He got out and slowly reversed the broken car so as not to injure Sumire who was still unconscious. Mort loosened her seatbelt and took the maiden out of the car. The smell of fuel leaking from his car. The hunk brings her away from the place and at a far distance, he shot the gas flowing out the engine. The loud explosion bombed the place and the large black smoke ascended into the air.

"Should I kill everyone first before quitting?" Face darkened and eyes glint murderously, oozing a menacing aura, Mort said coldly with jaw clenched.

A few minutes later, Klauss along with the twins arrived on the scene and see the destroyed car. Without saying a word, Mort put Sumire in the car.

The next morning the maiden woke up in the exclusive hospital suite and the first thing she saw was Klauss and the twins asleep on the sofa. Guarding her all night.

"Where's Mort?" In a worried tone, Sumire immediately asked. Klauss's puckered into a slight frown.

"He's not here." Klauss refrained from sounding sarcastic especially since she was pregnant.

"What happened to him?" Her eyes looked worried, Sumire asked. Thousands of questions prowling through her mind.

"He has injuries but he is fine," Klauss replied in a monotonous tone. Sumire quickly rose from the bed but fell back when she felt the dextrose syringe attached to her right hand. She closed her eyes when a streak of pain crawled inside her.

"Don't move. He's not in the hospital right now. He's gone for a walk." Klauss added making Sumire's heart pound in nervousness. She glanced at him, her eyes were tight and worried.

"He has injuries but he didn't go to the hospital? Is he killing himself?" Sumire said almost in hysterical as Klauss frowned at her.

"What he is about to do is for the safety of you and your child. So, you better stay still. All you have to do is wait." Klauss responded sardonically making her stunned.

Sumire was hurt by the tone of his speech. She felt like Klauss didn't like her presence. The maiden felt like she was in the way. She is a burden to Mort and will bring him nothing but trouble. And she possibly is the one to cause Mort's death. She was always the reason and almost lost him because of her.

"What do you think of me leaving him?" Sumire asked in a serious tone. All her emotions vanished on her face making Klauss freeze.

"The wisest decision you have ever made," Klauss replied with a smile. Without uttering a word, Sumire called her uncle Chadwick who answered immediately.

"What is it?" Chadwick asked on the other line. Sumire stared blankly at Klauss.

"I need your help, Uncle," Sumire responded. Klauss stood up and came out along with the twins he just woke up.

"Where will we go?" Leroy and Lyric asked Klauss at the same time.

"At the store." Klauss shortly replied as the twins frowned at him.

"But we can't leave her here," Leroy said confused, and slightly scratched the side of his head. They, especially Klauss, know that Sumire cannot be left in the hospital room because their Boss's enemies might kidnap her.

"Only the two of you will go there. I'll wait outside the room," said Klauss. Leroy and Lyric nodded and immediately obeyed him.

Klauss waited until the twins' presence was no longer in the place. A few minutes later, he entered back into Sumire's room and saw the maiden just finished the call.

"When can I leave without Mort knowing?" Sumire asked the moment Klauss stepped inside the room.

"Tomorrow. He will be gone all day." Klauss directly answered. The maiden blinked her tears away.

"And congratulations. You are a mother of twins." Klauss added. The tears clouded her vision finally streaming down her cheek. Sumire lowered her head as she sob and holds her tummy.

"Everything is gonna be okay." The maiden said in a whisper.

Sumire was discharged in the afternoon from the hospital. Walking down the hallway, she saw Mort in the lobby waiting for her. Her heart aches to see his head in a bandage. Even though he was wearing a suit, she knew there were more bruises on his body. Sumire burst into tears when she realized that she didn't have a single scar on her body, but Mort had many.

"Sumire." Mort called her name. The maiden started crying as she walked closer to Mort and immediately embraced him.

"I'm so sorry," Sumire said between her sobs as Mort frowned.

"Why? You did nothing wrong." Mort replied. He scooped Sumire from the floor and strides out of the hospital and heads to the parked car. The maiden still clung to his neck and didn't want to let go of him.

"Don't stress yourself too much. It's not good for our baby." Mort said in a gentle tone. Sumire nodded with her face buried in his chest.

"Forgive me if I put you in harm again. Because of my negligence, you almost got hurt." He added. A great sob escaped her lips. Mort is too good for her. She was consumed by shame and conscience.

Until they arrived at his home, Sumire remained like that. She was just hugging Mort. After dinner, they showered together and went to bed without talking. Although they liked the loud silence, but Sumire, who had thought of leaving tomorrow, was consumed by grief.

Mort, who was giving Sumire peace of mind, was just looking at the maiden who hugged him tightly. He feels like any second he will lose her. Placing her head on his arm, Mort embraced her that their bodies almost merge as one until they fall asleep. The next morning, Sumire woke up and Mort was gone. He has walk again and as usual, a tray of her favorite food was prepared for her and a love note on the side table of their bed.

Sumire feasted on the food as she was famished. After having her breakfast she prepared her stuff to leave. She wrote a letter to Mort and tearfully left the room. The moment she step out of the massive door, Klauss was waiting for her and immediately took the suitcase she was carrying. Both of them stride out of the castle in silence.

Klauss open the massive gate and there they were greeted with the expensive phantom chopper where her uncle Chadwick and Blanche were waiting for her.

"Let's go."

Leroy and Lyric who were at the castle were confused about what was happening while staring blankly into the sky as they looked cluelessly at the helicopter that had already taken off.

"Is she leaving Boss?" Leroy asked as Klauss just answered him with a shrug.

"It's for the best," Klauss responded and whistling as he sauntered into the castle. The twins just waved at the helicopter that now can barely be seen.

Klauss was in such a good mood that he took the violin which was one of Mort's deadly weapons in the castle and played with it. He swayed along to the music. It was like a waltz of death for the twins who wanted to clap but they just stayed silent and watched Klauss in the corner.

"Does he hate Sumire that much?" Leroy asked his twin who is leaning against the cold castle wall with arms folded on his chest.

"I don't think so," Lyric responded as Leroy frowned at him.

"Then explain that." Leroy challenged his twin brother. A sudden frown warped Lyric's regal features and cast an eye to Klauss.

"He didn't celebrate because Sumire left. He's doing that because something big will about happen." Lyric explained as he did his best to decode Klauss's mood.

"Creepy," Leroy said while looking at Klauss who had his eyes closed while thrumming the violin expertly.

"Klauss is like a villain in dark movies," Leroy added with a smile and his twin agreed with him.

The sun sinks on the horizon and darkness reigns the starless night sky. Mort got home and eyes quickly looked for the maiden's presence when he couldn't find her in their room. But before he could leave the place, his eyes caught something. He saw Sumire's letter on top of the bed. It was for him. A goodbye letter that Mort didn't even bother to read.

His menacing aura began to disperse in every corner, engulfing the entire castle, as dark as the night. The evening wind stirred his hair down as his eyes glint coldly.

"I won't allow this."