All I want is to be by your side (Lanza)

[Kouichi Osaka]

The trip back to his car was uneventful, considering the fact that it wasn't far. Once everything was loaded into the trunk, Kouichi let Lanza into the car, then got in himself. The drive home was mainly silent, Kouichi focusing entirely on the road. When they finally reached his place, he pulled into the driveway with a sigh. The place was huge, built in a Victorian style. The property, which in itself, was rather large for Japan, was covered in trees, shielding the house from both the road and the houses on either side. It was easy to note that most of the other places around had been converted into apartments, judging from various cars and bikes parked in their driveways, but his place was free of that. "I managed to get to it before they started renovations," he muttered in explanation, smiling slightly as he parked, then turned off the car.

"Well, this is it... The stuff in the trunk can stay there for now. Nothing is really needed inside at the moment." It was mostly just little things to make the place look more like a home. He'd already done all the painting and furnishing he needed to, after all. Kouichi stepped out of the vehicle, then walked around, opening the door for Lanza and holding it until she was out. Then he lead her up to the front door, unlocking it and once again holding it for her.

While the outside looked western, the inside was more Japanese, with the entry being typical Japanese construction of a lower entry where one removed their shoes, and a raised hall. There where several pairs of slippers waiting, as if Kouichi had been preparing for guests. His own shoes were quickly switched out for a pair of dark blue ones, and he waited for Lanza to do the same. Once she had, he smiled vaguely once again. "Would you like something to drink before I give you the tour?"

(OOC: Hello vaguely unfitting title. Well, whatever. I'm not good with thread names and picked random lyrics from the song I was writing to. :v)

[Lanza Riva]

Lanza followed Kouichi to the car, looking over his car curiously as he loaded his bags into the trunk. Come to think of it, this was the first time she had seen his car. After everything was loaded in the trunk, she got into the passenger seat and buckled herself in. It was a good thing her bodyguards knew Kouichi, and what he looked like, so her getting into a car with him wasn't going to be an issue. They soon were off and on their way to his new home, the drive being a silent one, with Kouichi focusing on driving, and Lanza looking out the window, memorizing the streets on the way there. Before long, they had pulled up into the driveway of the rather large Victorian styled house.

Staring out the window of the car, the redhead glanced up at the house, appraising it from the outside. You didn't come across this style often in a place like Japan, let alone in this size. It was smaller than her family home in Italy, but there was no doubt that it was just barely short of a mansion. The property surrounding the house was large as well, and was perfectly shielded by some trees. Kouichi was no doubt thinking of the fact he's associated with an heir to a mafia family and planned accordingly. But even so... why was the house so large? It was obviously way too big for him, even if it was a nice property. And he had spared it the fate of becoming an apartment, like a number of the other houses down the street, by the looks of things.

"Well, this is it... The stuff in the trunk can stay there for now. Nothing is really needed inside at the moment."

Well, if he said so, she wasn't going to make him take things that didn't need to be taken in right away. This was his home and he could do what he wanted, after all. He seemed more interested in playing a good host for her, anyway. He got out of the car and then let her out, apparently trying to be a gentleman. It wasn't necessary, but it was good that he had manners, at least. "Thank you, Kouichi-san," she said politely as she stepped out of the car and then followed him to the door, which he opened and politely held open for her. Really, as nice as it was to know her Sacrifice had proper manners, it wasn't necessary. However, she still didn't say anything about it as she stepped into the entranceway and, following Kouichi's lead, slipped her shoes off and put on a pair of slippers she found by the door and stepped up into the hall, where she was greeted by a vague smile of his and a question.

"Would you like something to drink before I give you the tour?"

Lanza blinked, having been offered a drink twice in the past hour, now. However, she knew he was just being polite. After all, the polite thing to do was offer guests a drink. She did the same thing months previous when she became his Fighter, after all. "Um, yes, I suppose I could use a drink now," she replied, managing a small smile at the red-eyed Sacrifice. "What do you have to drink?"

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi shifted in place, feeling abnormally restless as he waited for Lanza's reply, and then she agreed, asking him what he had. "Coffee, tea, water... I also have barley tea in the fridge if you'd like something cold other than water," he responded, motioning for her to follow him. He lead her down the entrance hall and into a spacious dining room, then through open double glass doors into the large kitchen. The center of the room was dominated by an island with bar stools on one side. The far end of the room held a large bay window that let in tree-filtered sunlight, causing the small table and matching chairs there to be spotted with green and yellow light. On the table was the flier he'd been staring at before heading out.

[Lanza Riva]

So the options were coffee, tea, water, and barley tea. Thinking about her options, Lanza responded to the motion to follow the red-eyed man further into the house, likely heading toward the kitchen to get the drink prepared for her. As they walked, she couldn't help but look about at the surroundings, affirming for herself that this house really was too big for him after all. It wouldn't be as bad if there were other people living there, but if it was just him, wasn't it a bit much? What was he thinking when he bought the place? It looked nice enough, but why the big jump? Wasn't he just staying with his former Fighter's father before? He didn't look like the kind of man to need much living space, so there was likely some sort of motive behind his buying the house, but what she couldn't discern.

She followed him through the spacious dining room and through the double glass doors into the rather large kitchen. Well, it was large, but she couldn't help but admit that it was a nice enough place. The bay windows on the far end of the kitchen were definitely nice, and the way the light filtered through the trees onto the table across the kitchen was almost peaceful as well. However it was then that she noticed something on the table over there and she made her way to the table, only to find a copy of the same flier he had caught her staring at back in Shinjuku. It was clear to her now that he had been planning to ask her to the festival for a little while now. Well, they already had well established that they were alike. Almost too alike. She set the paper back down on the table, remembering that she was supposed to make a choice of what to drink and she turned back to the white-haired Sacrifice. "Ah, I'll have some tea, if that's all right with you," she said softly, going back to looking around the kitchen curiously, her mottled white-orange ears perked forward with intense interest. "Your house... it's pretty nice thus far. I really like how the light filters through those trees over there, too. It feels calming, like being in the courtyard back at the Riva estate in Italy..." She always did like sitting under trees back home in Italy, after all. It was just so... relaxing.

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi seemed almost relieved hearing that Lanza liked the house so far, especially that the lighting reminded her of her home in Italy, but he quickly turned away, filling the kettle with water to boil before opening a cupboard. Inside was a veritable gold mine of teas and coffees. One shelf had special brewing supplies, another was stacked with tea, bagged and loose leaf of all kinds, and the final shelf was filled with coffee of various kinds. "Are you okay with green tea? Or do you have some other preference?" he asked, glancing from the over-stocked shelves to Lanza. Thinking about it, he probably had too much, but he liked having options.

[Lanza Riva]

"Anything is fine."

Lanza couldn't help but gawk as she stared at all the coffee and teas in the cupboard. He really stocked up. Why did he have so much to drink? He was a single guy living here alone after all. Was he expecting company? Kind of looked that way to her. Large house, and overstocked pantry... Everything was just a bit much for one single man.

"Are you okay with green tea? Or do you have some other preference?"

"I'm fine with whatever. If you're making green tea, I'll have green tea," she replied, glancing at the white-haired man. She usually did have a preference for black teas, being European, but she wanted to drink something that would be more comfortable for Kouichi. After all, she wanted to try as much of what Kouichi liked as possible. Was Sheeka the same way with his Japanese girlfriend and sacrifice? Remembering the coffees and teas, she turned to him once more. "I couldn't help but notice... This house is really big. Too big for one single man on his own, and your cupboard there is over stocked. Why did you buy such a large house and get so much?"

Notes: You're up, Kou. Don't dodge it, now.
Tags: Kouichi Osaka

[Kouichi Osaka]

The white-head shrugged slightly, not answering directly about the house, but the drink cupboard, he could answer. "I like having options. Every tea and coffee in here is different," he uttered, pulling down a bag of loose leaf green tea and a pot. He scooped some of the tea into the top of the pot, put the tea bag away, then pulled the kettle off the stove and poured water into the pot to steep. While the tea was steeping, he pulled out two mugs out, setting them on a tray, along with the pot and a sugar bowl. He wasn't sure Lanza would want it, but it was there, just in case. He then brought the tray over to the dining nook, setting it down and then moving the flier off the table.

[Lanza Riva]

"Options... Okay, that makes sense."

Lanza stared at the man as he muttered something about liking to have a lot of options, and that each bag of tea or coffee was something different. That was a lot of variety. She couldn't help but stare in awe. She didn't even see that many varieties even back home. That was impressive. Either that, or her family was a bit more particular on the kinds they liked to drink. That was possible.

"Options, hm? Well it definitely looks like you have that," she commented idly, watching him prepare a tray for them and then bring it to the dining nook. She eyed the mugs of steaming tea curiously, but decided to let them sit for a moment, letting them cool. She wasn't a fan of burning her tongue after all. He had dodged her question about the house. Was there a reason for that? As curious as she was, she kept quiet about it. Even if she asked, he was going to dodge it again. She had that kind of feeling, after all. Maybe he'll answer in a bit.

He then picked up the flier and moved it off the table, catching her attention again. "Ah, that's right. I forgot to ask..." she began, trying to find her words so that she didn't sound too strange to him. Well, she was a foreigner, maybe he'd chalk anything strange up to that. "Is there anything that I should know about festivals? I heard some things from my brother and read up a bit, but is there anything you think I should know? I heard people wear yukatas to them. Do I have to, as well?"

Notes: Gdi, Kou. Also, sorry for the late post.
Tags: Kouichi Osaka

[Kouichi Osaka]

Deeming it steeped enough, Kouichi took a moment to pour the tea, looking thoughtful at Lanza's question. "Well, I was planning on wearing a yukata, but you don't need to. A lot of people don't really wear yukata for summer festivals like this anymore, due to the fact that they can be a little hard to put on correctly. I think you'd look nice in one, but you can go however you'd like," he replied. "As for anything else you should know... not really? It's simple enough, and you're already pretty polite and respectful, so..." he trailed off there, picking up his cup to take a sip as he settled in his seat. The tea wasn't overly hot, thankfully, being just the right temperature to drink.

Sure, he was still nervous about Lanza's reaction once he invited her and her bodyguards to live there, but sitting in this quiet, peaceful nook of the kitchen with her, drinking tea, had a calming effect. This very spot had to be his favourite place in the entire house, despite being in the kitchen still. The lighting gave it such a peaceful atmosphere. It was incredibly pleasant and had actually helped to influenced his decision a little on buying the house. He'd honestly intended to look a bit more, but this space, combined with the shelter the trees granted, had drawn him to the place. It really was perfect... he just hoped Lanza would think the same.

[Lanza Riva]

Lanza tilted her head thoughtfully as she listened to the sacrifice. So he planned to go wearing a yukata, but a lot of people didn't go wearing them these days? Well, at least the option of not wearing one was open for her. It was then that she registered that he complimented her. Twice.

Her cheeks flushed embarrassedly and she searched for something else for her to focus on, praying that he didn't notice. However she was certain he had. She wasn't standing in his blind spot, after all. She took her cup and sipped it, hoping to calm down as she moved to sit down at the table as well.
"Thank you... I'm... glad you think so, Kouichi-san," she managed, finally, glancing at him before she turned to look out the window. It really did remind her of the courtyard with how the light filtered through the trees. It was very comforting. She liked this spot quite a bit, she found. "I'll... think about it, at least. I won't be able to put it on myself, but I know someone who may be able to if I wanted to try it out."

She wasn't sure about going to ask Shiru about helping her put on a yukata, but at least she had the option to opt out and go in normal clothing. But Kouichi had said she would look good in one, and to be honest she was curious about that kind of tradition, or any tradition for that matter. She didn't care much for dressing all feminine lately, but she had to start wearing skirts for disguise and well... she may as well extend that to yukata as well. Now all she had to do was make up her mind.

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi smiled, ever so slightly at that. He kind of thought he knew exactly who Lanza might ask, but he didn't say anything, choosing to let the conversation lapse into comfortable silence as he to, turned to look out the window while he drank his tea.

When they were both finished, he took the tray, once again with everything on it, over to the counter. He could wash everything and put it away later. For now, he had a house to show.

Feeling the nerves building again, he lead Lanza on a tour through the house, from ground floor to upper floor, to the attic room, then down to the basement, and then the garage, followed by the "shed", which had been converted to an apartment by the previous owners. Apparently, it had been meant to be a place for the landlord to live. Now, it was just extra space.

Once the tour was finished, he lead Lanza back to the sitting room to get comfortable. "...what do you think of the place?" he asked, not quite looking at her, but still not showing how nervous he actually was.

[Lanza Riva]

Lanza followed Kouichi as he led her on a tour of the house and premises, which further solidified her opinion that this house was too big. Far too big for just one man, at least. Was he planning on taking up his father's mantle and having some of the people from the yakuza move in, or something? It was very nearly large enough, and would be very private, what with all the trees. Plus, the trees made an excellent natural border, meaning there were few entrances for intruders. Thus, making this place perfect for that kind of setup, as it would be easily defended.

She was lost in her thoughts for a while, and almost missed him speaking. "Hm?" she hummed, snapping back to reality as his question finally hit her. "Oh, well, it's a nice place. Definitely looks cozy. I really like the trees out there. Reminds me of the courtyard back home, as I said earlier. It's nice," she replied with a smile. She decided that she should just keep quiet about it being big. After all, she had tried to question him earlier, and got no response. Whatever. It wasn't a big deal. He had his reasons for buying a big house all for himself, and she had no right to harass him over it.

[Kouichi Osaka]

"So... you like it, then?" Kouichi asked, though it was somewhat rhetorical. "Then... would you like to move in? Your bodyguards are, of course, welcome as well. As well as all the extra rooms, the couch is a fold out, so there's more than enough room..." Now he actually looked almost as nervous as he felt, unable to look at Lanza at all anymore. Would she reject his offer? He hoped not. The hotel room she was using was fine, but it wasn't nearly as safe as it could be. After all, anyone could go an rent a room there. "I was also thinking of turning the landlord apartment into a guard house of sorts. Turn it into a surveillance post. I've already started the process of wiring cameras around the grounds," he told her, attempting a smile, though it was incredibly forced and looked it, too.

[Lanza Riva]

"Then... would you like to move in? Your bodyguards are, of course, welcome as well. As well as all the extra rooms, the couch is a fold out, so there's more than enough room..."

Lanza blinked, not quite sure she understood him properly at first. Did he... just ask her to move in? Sheeka and Shiru had not only been a unit, but a couple for a while and they had yet to move in together. Yet, here was Kouichi asking her to move in and they had only known each other for a few months. Not that she was opposed, or anything. Oh, no. She was fine with it. It just came as a huge shock, however.

It was then that it occurred to her. He was likely trying to get her closer to him in his new location. It made perfect tactical sense. They were a unit now, and were both from yakuza and mafia families. That spelled danger in every sense of the word. Plus, it would be easier to work with him if she was closer to him. Besides, he likely knew as well as she did that the hotel was only so good. Thus, it made every ounce of sense to do what he was doing, making a house-like fortress for them, so they could not only have a base of operations, but be secure, especially with what was going on lately. "Move in...? Well, I honestly don't see why I shouldn't. I mean, you are my sacrifice, so it'd be better for us as a unit if we were a bit closer geographically, as well as it'd make things easier for us to work together," she replied thoughtfully. She then smiled and opened her mouth to say some more, which was most likely something about how he shouldn't force himself to smile if he didn't feel like it, but she was immediately cut off by her cell phone ringing.

Immediately distracted, she fumbled for her phone, turned on the screen, saw that the number was blocked, and then cautiously answered it. "...Hello?"

"Hello, this is Miss Lanza Astra Riva, correct? My name is Mattia Luca Corvi. I hope you remember me. At any rate, I don't want to waste any of your precious time, so I will be brief. Your younger brother... Sheeka, was it? He's in our care at this moment, but I am willing to return him, provided you come meet with me," said a smooth, almost purring voice on the other side as he spoke to her in Italian. However, just hearing his voice would've made Lanza sick to her stomach, had his news not alarmed her so much that the colour drained from her face.

So Sheeka had been kidnapped... when? Must've been recent if they're only just contacting her now. The next question would have been "why me" but she knew the answer to that already. She had been approached on the street numerous times by the Corvi, each time wanting her to return, or even just meet with them, but each time she flatly refused. They abandoned her, and they didn't deserve to get a moment of her time. Or so she thought.

"C-Corvi...?" Getting over her initial surprise, she gritted her teeth and gripped her phone tightly, glaring off at some wall as if she could see the offender. "I swear... if you bastards hurt him..." she began, but was cut off by the voice.

"I assure you I have not harmed him, and I have told my men to give him the best of care. However, he didn't come too quietly and I can't guarantee the men will be too keen on behaving themselves for too long. I fear they... might try something if you dilly dally too much. So do try to be prompt, hmm? I will send you the address in a text message. Come alone."

Lanza stood there, listening as the line went dead, her hand gripping the phone so tight, her knuckles were almost white. It was then that she pulled her hand away from her ear, letting her arm, and the phone, fall as her knees buckled and she sank to the floor, sitting there in anger and shock. After a few moments, she realized where she was once more and looked up at Kouichi. "...Sheeka... The other family... The Corvi have Sheeka..."

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi let out a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding at Lanza's positive response, but before he could say anything, her phone had rang. He watched with increasing worry as her expression morphed throughout the short conversation, and he stepped forward as she sank to her knees, dropping to one knee as she looked up at him. Carefully, he rested his hands on her shoulders as she told him what was going on. "What did they want in exchange for your brother?" he asked. Right now, that was the most important question. They had to be careful about how they went about this. Rescuing Sheeka was top priority right now, but he wouldn't have his fighter hurt, either.

[Lanza Riva]

"Those... those bastards think they can come back into my life after what they did to me... And now they've...!" muttered Lanza angrily, not even aware of what was asked of her. It was then that her phone beeped again, drawing her attention back to it. She glared down at the phone for a moment before she picked it up and turned the screen back on to see an address of where she was supposed to go, and a picture of a bruised and tied up, but somehow still defiant-looking Sheeka.

That was it. She was going to kill them. All of them. It was bad enough they forsook their own child and left her to die, but to come back years later and expect her to come back, even go so far as to kidnap her younger brother to try and convince her? That was too far. They needed to be put in their place. Gripping her phone tight once more, she lifted her head and moved to get up. "...Thanks for today. I've got to go. I need to have a little 'chat' with the assholes who abandon their own family."

[Kouichi Osaka]

Kouichi's worried frown deepened as he tightened his grip on Lanza's shoulders. "Lanza. You are not going anywhere on your own. Charging in there blindly without back up is a recipe for trouble. You're my fighter now, and I'm not going to lose you, too," he uttered, his tone firm and almost cold. "What we need is a solid plan, and rescuing Sheeka-san should be our top priority. Revenge can come after he's safe." He could only hope Lanza was in a state to listen to reason. If not, he would restrain her and call for aide from Koshima-san.

[Lanza Riva]

Lanza felt Kouichi's grip tighten on her shoulders, effectively restraining her. Obviously not too pleased by this, she looked up at him, angry and more than a little frantic. But then, she forced herself to relax a bit, took a breath, and then looked at him again, still smoldering with rage, but not as openly. "...Don't you think I know all of that already? I just don't have much of the luxury of waiting for help. They told me they wanted to have a talk with me, so I'll go 'talk' with them. You're not going to lose me, Kouichi. Not when I'm suddenly so precious to them they would harass me nonstop for weeks and then kidnap my little brother. So... can you please let go of my shoulders? Your grip is hurting me a bit,"she said, fiddling with her phone before she showed him the text with the address as well as the picture of Sheeka. "They were even 'kind' enough to give me an address."

She continued to sit there, sighing. She knew he wasn't going to let her walk in without a plan, but there wasn't any real way to go in with back up when she was told to arrive alone. However, instead of coming up with ideas, something occurred to her. When he addressed her before, he simply called her by her name, no honorifics attached. Was that on purpose? Come to think of it, she did the same, but that was more a reflex than anything. She had come from a country where no one has honorifics like that, after all. "...You... didn't use an honorific, there," she mentioned, wondering if that was something that would be akin to her being called by all three names, which was something no Western child wanted to hear. Ever. Such things were often an omen of bad luck, especially if it was your father saying it. Thankfully, it was just her first name, and her sacrifice, but sacrifices did hold authority on fighters. What he said, went.

"Okay... I won't blindly go in there, but I unfortunately can't take you, or anyone else with me. They demanded I talk with them. Alone. If I comply, they said they'd return Sheeka," she stated, looking at him much more calmly. It was a crazy idea, and he might not like it, but it was worth a shot. "The ringleader seems to be my blood elder brother. The two of us were inseparable before... I was abandoned by our parents. But, still, I trust them about as far as I can throw them. So, I'll go, uphold my end and 'talk' with him. Create a distraction. But, before I go, I'll call Papa and let him know the location. I'll go in alone, but I can guarantee I'll come out fine with Papa and Celino coming as backup later. If you're that worried, you could always tag along and ensure I get out. Does that sound better to you?"