CHAPTER 3, PART 7

AFTERSHOCK

"What are you talking about?!" Takeshi screams.
"Don't play stupid, we know you've been abusing her! Come out now!" I yell back.
"I don't abuse my precious little girl! We both know you're just trying to pin this on me!"
"Open the door or we're breaking it down!" The officer next to me yells.
"Fine, I'm coming!" He says, then begins fiddling with the door locks. "Now what-" The police officers handcuff him, and take him out to the cruiser. We search the house for Natsuki, and find her crying in her room. I rush over to comfort her.
"It's okay now, we're here. He's not going to hurt you anymore." I say to Natsuki
"No... it's not okay..." She says. "I... just... bring him back!"
"What?..."
"I said bring him back! I want my papa back!" She screams, with tears in her eyes.
"But-?.."
"I just want my papa back! I want my mama back!... I want my old family back..." She clings to me in a hug. "I.. I just want things to go back to how they were..."
The realization hits me, and I hug Natsuki back.
"I really wish they could go back that way too... but I'm here for you now. I'm not going to let you get hurt like that again."
She bursts into uncontrollable sobs.
"I just want... all the pain... to stop!"
"I'll be here for you until it does stop."
I gently caress her, trying to calm her down. I keep Natsuki in a hug for about two minutes before she finally stops crying. She takes a deep breath.
"They're.. going to need me to stand against him... in court... won't they?..." She asks.
"I'm afraid so..."
"When?.." She asks.
"We'll have to decide that soon, but for now, why don't you come stay at my place?" I ask her.
"That sounds... nice.." She hugs me again. "Thank you, Shin... for everything.."
I stand up, and offer out my hand. She stares at it, then me.
"Come on, let's go home." I say.
"Home?..."
She takes my hand gently.

"Home."