Can’t let me do what? Who the fuck does she think she is?

Without giving it a second thought I pushed her aside and continued. As soon as I reached the last step my arms were grabbed and I got dragged down the stairs. I managed to catch a glimpse of the man holding my right arm just before he jammed his fist into my liver. I lost my breath, bent forward, and dropped on my knees.

There’s nothing like being hit in the liver with a good shot. You can’t just brush it off in the same way one can brush off a headshot. Your whole body shuts down, your hands drop and you can’t breathe from the pain and shock.

With my knees sliding over the floor, I was dragged off into some corner at the back of the dancefloor. I looked up gasping for air and saw a blurry crowd of people around me. The man that punched me, a sturdy Japanese with a high ponytail, grabbed my chin and smacked my face a few times.

Let me see what spring is like

On a, Jupiter and Mars

The sensual voice of the singer melted in my ears. I looked my aggressor in the eyes and chuckled. He punched me hard in my face and I fell backward.

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, baby, kiss me

I pushed myself up on all four, noticing blood dripping on the floor below me. My eyes were tearing, my nose was bleeding. I squinted in the direction of Fujiwara. His hakama was easy to spot, even more so as he just stood up from the sofa. He was leaving! Not sure how, must have been my stubbornness, but I stood up and launched forward at the same time. Strong arms caught my shoulders and pushed me in the opposite direction. I stumbled into people, who formed a small circle around me. Two men grabbed me and pinned my arms to my sides, forcing me to stand still.

It was a bizarre situation. The singer continued to sing and the rest of the crowd enjoyed and danced, not giving a damn that I was being beaten up.

My little circle of interest was comprised of five men, a Caucasian and a black guy among them. The black guy, who held down my right arm, was huge and grinned at each of my attempts to wiggle out of his grip. The Japanese man at my left arm eventually got annoyed and punched me in my stomach.

Just more pain added to the already excruciating pain from the liver shot. My face, my eyes were burning from the punch to my nose and, tasting my own blood, I wondered, how much longer before I shut down.

The green-eyed woman pushed through the men in the circle and stopped a short distance from me. Her head slightly tilted to the side and her hands crossed in front she stood there staring at me. Even though I couldn’t understand why all this was happening, I knew she was responsible for it.

I chuckled raspingly. “You, bitch. All this, just ‘cause you can’t take a rejection?”

A small smile appeared on her lips. It was not malicious, more like benevolent, but with an intent behind it. She gestured for the Caucasian guy to come closer and said something in his ear, keeping her stare on me.

Fill my heart with song

And let me sing forevermore

She gave a nod and the men at my sides tighten their hold on my arms. The Caucasian guy, whose body was the size of mine only much more muscled, took a step forward and lightly jumped from one leg to another before he readied himself into a stance. I knew what that stance was for.

You are all I long for

All I worship and adore

“Please…don’t…” I half-whispered, looking desperately at the woman for mercy.

In other words, please be true

He spun around. I fixed my eyes on her and braced myself for the kick.

In other words,

I love you.