Over the course of a week, Toru grew closer and closer to Taka; he pulled the thread of secrets buried deep inside him day by day.

The blonde learned that the meals he was allowed to eat were limited to dinner. He was also not allowed to have friends or go out to have fun. House chores were thrown on his shoulders too. In addition to that, a cell phone was completely forbidden.

Toru adjusted his thick black glasses and looked at the clock peacefully resting on the light brown wall with a hint of golden glitter. It was almost midnight, his correction duty really did drag on.

What is Taka doing now? Toru thought smiling at Taka's full marks.

Out of the blue, a loud thud of shattered glass tore into his ear drums, directly followed by unclear shrieks and loud voices and someone crying coming from downstairs....oh no. Toru's chair fell to the ground before he rushed out of the door, not bothering to wear his shoes. There was no time to waste.

The teacher's fist met the wooden door punching it furiously, "open the door!" He shouted, but no one answered. He started kicking and hitting harder "OPEN THE DAMN DOOR BEFORE I CALL THE COPS" he bellowed. Anger carved it's way into his muscles as the door to the apartment lost its firm grip and slid open. A woman with platinum blonde hair stood in the hallway, wearing something called anything but decent.

Toru averted his eyes from the abomination, scanning the room until he spotted Taka. The little teenager was covering his head with tears cascading down his face, his arms and legs already bleeding from the shattered glass Toru heard earlier "Please stop!" Taka sobbed as his father's knuckles landed on him without fail. Not a thought was allowed to pass as Toru hurtled to the beaten boy. Taka was engulfed in Toru's sturdy arms, shielded away from his father.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Toru demanded in between clenched teeth.

"Who are you" the so-called father hissed as his arm was slapped away by Toru after he attempted to retrieve the sobbing mess of a child between his arms.

"Oh~ I just told this rascal to iron my clothes and he refused. He was just receiving his lesson for disobedience" the woman remarked as she edged closer to Toru, trailing her red polished nails on his biceps.

"Stand back you filthy slut" the blondie growled pushing her away "Araa~~ a handsome man shouldn't speak like that" she voiced again after Toru who was already dragging the trembling Taka out of the hell he lived in. He doubted his father would come after him seeing that he wouldn't care for his well-being.

Toru only let go of Taka after making sure he was safe in his locked apartment. However, it wasn't long before he hugged him again for his sobs won't die down. "Ssh.." Toru mumbled stroking his back. "He can't find you here" Toru muttered, holding Taka's shaking figure in his firm grip. Toru wondered if kissing his head would sooth him then let go of the thought. He wouldn't want to creep him out.

He then walked Taka attentively to the couch, still enveloping him. The older of the two tended to the younger's wounds thoroughly as Taka quivered silently. "Have you had dinner?" Toru inquired, ruffling Taka's hair. With a nod of affirmation Taka answered before getting on his heels "where do you think you're going?" Toru asked with a raised brow.

"Back home"

"stop spouting nonsense, you're sleeping here tonight" the tutor announced clutching at Taka's wrist.

The student was guided to a spacious bedroom and thrown into the fluffy blankets. "Thank you sensei" Taka smiled fondly at Toru who was closing the door slowly.

"Yamashita-sensei?"

"Hm?"

"Please...stay here until I fall asleep"

To be continued....