Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Love or Hate ❯ Volume One, Chapter Six: The Battle Begins ( Chapter 6 )

The Battle Begins

Already, flames of discord started to burn out of control. Isao and Mai had to live close together. She fired the first shot when she insulted Tomoe. No one insulted his mother and gets away with it. Mai had to go. But, there came another problem.

Raija would be living here now. Tomoe was so much in love with him. Isao found himself stuck. But, that wouldn't be the half of it.

“I'm so sorry, baby,” Tomoe said. She rubbed Raija on his back in his office. He shook his head.

“He's not usually like this,” she went on. “It's always been him and I. His father was never around. He always was the one to take care of me.” Her words sounded so distant. Raija rubbed his forehead. This was not what he pictured. Tomoe was the sweetest woman he ever met. He loved her dearly. But her son… Whew.

I did not sign up for this.

“Is he seeing anyone?” Raija asked. His wife paused.

“What?” she asked. He lifted his head.

“Is Isao seeing anyone?” he asked.

“I don't think so,” Tomoe said. “He was with Gary, but that didn't last long.”

“Gary?” he asked.

“Oh, he's bisexual,” she said. “Is that a problem?” Raija shook his head.

“Fine, it's fine,” he said. This didn't change his plans.

“My niece is single,” he said. Tomoe didn't get where this was going.

“Huh?” she asked. Raija held her hand.

“It will be okay,” he said. “I will have it all fixed.”

“Huh?” his wife asked. She just stood blinking.

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The trouble was Isao and Mai couldn't avoid each other. They worked in the same building. She lived fifteen minutes away from his house. It didn't help that Mai came over for dinner. Isao could not focus.

“She's a nightmare,” he complained over the phone. “Her uncle is worse.”

“I understand,” Gary said on the other line. His ex groaned.

“Mom eloped while in India!” Isao cried. “How could she?!” He heard a knock on the stall door.

“Are you okay?” Kaz asked.

“No,” the vocalist said.

“Don't take too long,” the manager said. Isao took slow breaths.

“What do you plan to do?” Gary asked. Isao rubbed his forehead.

“I don't know,” he said. He dropped his hand by side. Isao threw back his head.

If he had only known what Raija was plotting.

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For once in weeks, Raija smiled. Now he had his plan of cupid ready.

Track Six