Taira stands in the dimly lit bathroom, the only light seeping through the slightly cracked door, casting a faint glow over the marble tiles. Her rose red eyes glint with fury as she stares into the mirror, her long dark hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She grips the edge of the sink, knuckles turning white, and her jaw clenches as she practically hisses into her phone.

"How the fuck did this happen, Kenji?! You incompetent piece of shit, you let this bastard see my face and now he's in police custody!"

Her voice is low, venomous, but the anger in her tone makes her words carry even through the thick bathroom walls. She doesn’t notice how loud she’s gotten in her rage.

Her eyes narrow as she listens to the feeble excuses on the other end of the line, her temper only rising. She continues, her voice now shaking with barely contained fury.

"Listen to me, you worthless fuck. You’re going to take care of this, do you understand? I want him dead by dawn, do you hear me?"

She practically growls the last sentence into the phone, her voice rising in volume despite her trying to keep it under control.

"And don’t even think about screwing this up, because if he’s not dead by morning, I’ll personally see to it that your pathetic family is next! Your wife, your children,

*all

of them, Kenji!" Taira’s grip on the phone tightens as she gives one final, deadly command before ending the call abruptly.

"Fix this, or you’ll be begging me for death.”

Taira glares at you as she comes out of the bathroom, her face flushed with anger. "It's none of your damn business what I'm talking about," she snarls, trying to regain some control over herself. She paces back and forth across the bedroom, wringing her hands nervously as she walks.

"I just got word that someone from my...my past saw me with you, love, and he's been arrested," she admits reluctantly, still not making eye contact. "But there's always the risk that he could talk, and I can't afford for that to happen." Her voice cracks on the last word as she finally meets your gaze, her eyes pleading with you to understand.

"I need you to trust me when I say it's better this way, all right? I'm doing this for our family," she whis

You smile back at her, trying to reassure her that everything will be alright, and you kiss her gently on the lips. She returns the kiss with a desperation that takes your breath away for a moment, as if she needs this connection just as much as you do.

"Thank you," she whispers against your lips before pulling away again. "I'll make sure everything goes smoothly, and I'll see you later tonight." Her voice is softer now, less angry but still shaky with fear and worry. As if sensing that she needs some time alone to gather herself, you nod understandingly and give her a reassuring squeeze before going into the living room to watch TV while keeping an eye on the baby.

That brings a small smile to her lips as she hears you talk about her in such loving terms. She listens carefully, taking comfort in your words even though they're hardly a secret. Taira knows how lucky she is to have found someone like you who not only adores her but also accepts the complexities of her life and loves her unconditionally despite it all. As much as she wishes she could leave this world behind, the knowledge that you exist makes it impossible for her to truly walk away.

Lost in thought, Taira decides to take a break from work; there will be plenty of time tomorrow. She joins you in the living room, careful not to disturb the baby as she sits down next to you on the couch. For now, at least for tonight, she can put aside her dangerous responsibilities and focus on what truly matters: being with the man she loves and their beautiful child.

Taira closes her eyes as she feels your warm breath on her hair, the scent of your cologne making her heart race. Even though she knows better than to trust these moments of peace, she can't help but savor them while they last. She turns toward you slightly, their faces inches apart, and whispers softly into the quiet night air, "I love you." It's a whispered confession of truth that seems almost surreal coming from her lips. But in this moment, with you here beside her, it feels as real and solid as anything else.

Her heart skips a beat as she sees the warmth in your smile and feels you breathe those words against her skin. Taira blushes, overcome with emotion, and before she can think better of it, leans forward to press her lips gently against yours. The kiss is slow and tender at first, but quickly deepens as their desire for each other grows, becoming more urgent and passionate with every beat of their hearts. In this moment, all else fades away, and there is only the two of them, united by love and surviving in spite of the world that seeks to tear them apart.

She can't help but smile against your lips as she feels your confusion and desire intermingle beneath her fingertips. "Because when I'm with you," she whispers, trailing a path of soft kisses down your jaw, "I feel safe. I feel like I can be anyone, do anything." Her voice is thick with emotion as she continues, "I want to show you how much I love you, even if it means breaking all the rules."

She presses her body against yours, reveling in the heat and strength that radiates from your frame. With a sigh of contentment, she pulls back just enough to look into your eyes, searching for any hint of judgment or rejection. But instead, she sees only love reflected back at her, and it gives her the courage to press on, to reveal more of herself to you even when the world outside seems determined to tear them apart.

You're my safe haven, my escape from the world outside. Wherever you are, I feel like I can be myself and nothing else matters. You make me want to be better, braver...to conquer everything just to prove how much I love you. It's a weakness in this life, being so dependent on one person, but with you it feels right, necessary even.

Her fingers trail down your chest, following the path her lips have left behind before circling his nipple through the thin fabric of his shirt. "Show me how much I mean to you," she whispers huskily as she teases him with a light flick of her wrist. "Prove it tonight."

As you carry her to your bed, she wraps her legs around your waist and buries her face in the crook of your neck, exhaling a shuddery breath that leaves goosebumps along his skin. The sensation of being held so close, so tightly, is intoxicating; it makes her feel wanted and desired in a way she's not often allowed to experience outside this small bubble of intimacy they've created together.

Her hands slide under your shirt to touch the warm, smooth skin of your back as you lower her down onto the mattress. She breaks their kiss only long enough to pull his head down for another, deeper kiss before whispering against his lips, "Prove it."