Sweet as Sugar

Sweet as Sugar
Chapter sixteen

You stared in horror at what was before you. Mori was sitting up with bruises covering pretty much every part of his body. You could see maybe a quarter of his beautiful face that hadn't been roughed up. The rest was unevenly swollen and discolored. And when he finally saw that you and Honey were both at the door you practically felt the anxiety that rolled off of him.

Honey grabbed onto your arm, hugging on to it. You felt sick. Without being explicitly told you knew that the blonde had done this. To his cousin...his best friend. How could he have done this?

You couldn't tear your eyes away from him. You were horrified at what you saw. Tears started to well up in your eyes. Honey had done this and you were starting to understand why. Fear spread quickly through your system as you looked down towards the martial arts master. You tried to pull your arm away from him but he wouldn't let go. Your breathing quicker as you tried again.

He was a monster.

Honey clung to your arm and eventually you tripped fell to the ground. Your yukata that you'd been wearing since you took the bath split open. To the point that if you moved too much you might flash the room with everything below the obi. Those tears from a moment ago started to cloud your vision. Especially when you heard Mori trying to get up.

Honey helped you back to your feet. Instead of holding onto your arm this time he snaked around your waist. Mori finally got to his feet.

"Mitsukuni," Mori called out in his natural deep timber.

Honey's gaze turned hateful. He turned his head so that his cheek was against the side of your boob. His mouth turned down into a deep scowl as the taller man. Mori was a good representation of why you wouldn't accept his affections; or at least that's what was in Honey's head.

He was tall, grown up looking even. And unlike with him, you had snuggled against Mori during the movie night like someone should their boyfriend. The only reason Honey had let himself be taken to your bed that night was because he thought you'd joking him to sleep. He thought you'd have been too modest to stay next to Mori for long once he was gone. And when you were tired you wouldn't think too much about joining him in bed. What person didn't feel safe about sleeping next to a kid? Then he would have had you all to himself. But no. You had fallen asleep against his cousin. And Mori had done nothing about it. Worst of all, his cousin had enjoyed the snuggles that were supposed to have been his.

Honey tensed up when Mori moved closer. Despite the fact that he could barely breathe without pain raising up his side, Mori was still trying to help you. Against him. And your eyes were still latched on to Mori despite how ugly Honey had made him look with all the bruising.

When you felt Honey start to coil, an awful flashback filled your head. He was going to launch himself at Mori. He was going to hurt him. Strangle him. Would you be able to get him to stop this time?

"No, please. Don't," you whispered brokenly. "Honey...let's just go eat that ice cream you promised. Okay?"

You wrapped your arms around Honey. It would be better if you just held him. Maybe he'd not hurt Mori anymore if you just pretended. Honey looked back to you in surprise with wide eyes. A smile spit the down he'd been wearing as he hugged you back, his heart racing in happiness. After an extended hug, he let go of you.

You would have been relieved if it wasn't for the fact that he grabbed your hand and started to pull you off to one of the compound's kitchens.