For the Good of Everyone Ch. 08

Tia sat on the couch in Kaizen's office, reading. She was enjoying the change of setting and felt more at home in a government building. Kaizen was in a meeting that Tia assumed was his morning briefing. She didn't dare move from the couch to look around, as Kaizen had strictly forbade her from leaving her spot. She didn't want to get caught and she certainly didn't want to be sent back to the palace.

The night before had been confusing to say the least. She had felt like Kaizen had opened up to her, but she didn't understand why he did. She was just a political pawn, not someone he cared about. He had made that clear when he humiliated her in front of his brothers. She knew they would never respect her now and dreaded the next time she saw any of them.

She hadn't lost sight of her goal to escape back to America, but she also feared pushing Kaizen too far. She needed him to snap and hurt her again so she could reasonably play the scared, submissive woman. However, she worried about angering him to the point that he decided he didn't need her or that she wasn't worth the trouble.

She was interrupted from her thoughts by Kaizen entering the room. She watched him as he ignored her and went to his desk. He sat down and opened his laptop. One of Kaizen's brothers, Tia thought his name was Kenji, followed shortly behind. He glanced at Tia before sitting down in the chair across from Kaizen's desk.

Kaizen glanced up at Kenji, then looked to her, "Tia, go get me a coffee."

Tia didn't like being treated like she was a secretary, but she understood he wanted her out of the room and she needed to stretch her legs, "How do you like it?" She closed her book and stood up.

"Black." His focus was on Kenji as she nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.

She walked past Kaizen's secretary to the small coffee shop located near the main entrance. She could have asked the secretary to get the coffee for her, but she wanted an excuse to explore. She was waiting in the short line to order when she felt a presence uncomfortably close to her.

"Hey sexy." Tia turned to see Kaizen's youngest brother beaming at her. She rolled her eyes and took a half step away from him, not wanting to engage. "Someone clearly needs this." He said, gesturing at the coffee shop.

"Yes, my husband does." Tia said shortly, hoping he would back off at the mention of Kaizen.

He laughed, "Don't I know it." She took a step forward in line and he followed, "He's been in a mood since we got back from America. Aren't you supposed to be keeping him happy?"

She glared at him, "Aren't you supposed to be doing something other than bothering me?"

He laughed again, "What wrong with getting to know my sister-in-law?"

"Maybe the fact that you called her sexy even though she's married to your brother." Tia walked to the counter to order, "One black coffee and one iced latte, please."

He followed her, "Oh come on, we both know you'd rather have the newer model." He addressed the barista, "Make that two iced lattes." He pulled out his phone to pay.

"I don't need any man, and I certainly do not need one to pay for me." She tried to pull out her phone but he had already tapped his to the kiosk.

He slipped his phone back into his pocket and they stepped to the side to wait for their coffees. "I never said anything about need, only preference." He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "But spend one night with me and it will certainly be a need." The barista set their orders down, "See you later, sexy." He grabbed his order and left before she could respond.

Tia picked up her and Kaizen's coffees and made her way back to his office. She was annoyed. Her interaction with the youngest brother confirmed her fears that Kaizen's brothers did not respect her. The cocky idiot pissed her off.

The door to Kaizen's office was shut when she arrived outside. His secretary smiled at her and pointed to the seats outside. Tia did not like waiting and was not used to being kept out of things, but she sat down because she was happy to not be back at the palace.

Tia's book was inside Kaizen's office and his secretary seemed to be busy, so Tia sat in silence. She gazed about the area. Kaizen's office was at the end of a long hall with his brothers' offices along the wall to the left. They were in birth order with Kenji's office closest to Kaizen's and Keito's office farthest. That was his name. Keito. The youngest brother and the annoying prick who clearly thought her nothing but a piece of ass.

Tia thought it must have been nice to have so many siblings to help with running the country. Back home, it was just Dane and Tia. Or it was. Charlotte mostly dealt with the public relations part of things and tended to the children. Dane would have to make all the decisions now. Tia wondered how he was faring without her.

The door to Kaizen's office opened and Kenji exited, going to his own office. He didn't notice her and shut the door behind him. Tia picked up the coffees and went to the door, knocking on it lightly.

"Come in." She heard Kaizen call from the other side. She opened the door with her elbow and shut it behind her. Kaizen sat behind his desk, studying something intently on his laptop. He glanced up and his eyes softened when he saw it was her. He closed his laptop and motioned for her to approach.

Tia walked toward his desk and set his coffee down. He reached out his hand to her and she put her own coffee on his desk. She walked around it and gave him her hand. He brought it to his face and kissed it, then pulled her toward him. Her knees hit the chair and she caught herself with her hands on his shoulders. She was straddling him with her toes barely on the floor.

He closed her mouth with his before she could protest and lifted her so she was sitting on his legs with her knees on either side of him. He kissed her hungrily and placed his hand on her stomach under her blouse. She broke the kiss before he got too carried away.

"Your secretary will hear us." Tia's face was flushed.

"I don't care." Kaizen started to unbutton her blouse and Tia grabbed at his hand, "I want you right here over this desk." He continued, "Besides, the office is sound proofed."

"I don't want to be a distraction." She tried to get up but he held her in place, "If I distract you, you won't let me come with you again."

"You're a distraction whether or not you're here." He assured her, "At least with you here I can do something about it."

"I'll only allow this if you agree to let me come with you whenever I please." He stopped trying to unbutton her shirt, contemplating her request.

"Done." She let go of his hands and he undid her blouse, slipping it over her shoulder so only her lacy bra remained. He kissed her again before picking her up and placing her so she was sitting on his desk. He pushed his laptop and papers out of the way and laid her down. He took a step back, went to his briefcase, and started to rummage through it.

Tia propped herself up on her elbows, "What are you doing?"

He ignored her until he found what he was looking for, "I got you a present." He pulled a small box out of his briefcase and opened it. Inside was a small vibrator Tia had only seen in media. She had always wanted to try one but was too embarrassed to have one delivered to her in America.

She watched him curiously as he walked over to her and flipped it on. It was nearly silent and Tia could only tell it was on because of the light that showed its charge. She was wearing heels and a pencil skirt that ended just above her knees.

"Lay back and close your eyes." Kaizen commanded. Tia slowly lowered her back down against the desk and stared at the ceiling for a moment before closing her eyes. Kaizen hummed in approval and began to take off her heels. He let each fall to the floor before running his hands from her ankles to her thighs and pulling her skirt up.

She heard him kneel and he opened her legs, kissing the inside of her thigh just above her knee. He touched the vibrator to her thigh where he had kissed her and drew circles. Tia was surprised by how powerful it felt and squeezed her eyes closed tighter as he began to move it toward her core. He stopped just short of her panties and kissed her other leg, drawing circles with the vibrator the same way he had before.

He drew the vibrator up her leg until he reached her panties and he rubbed in on her slit through them. She balled her fists at her sides as he pushed it between her folds. Her eyes shot open and she yelped and sat up as he held it over her clitoris. She put a hand over herself protectively and he stood.

"Hmm, you are sensitive. Aren't you?" He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her toward him to kiss her. She kissed him back but he pulled away quickly. "Lay back again." She looked at him apprehensively, "I'll be gentler." He assured her before turning down the intensity on the vibrator.

She took a deep breath before laying back and opening her legs to him. He knelt and pulled her panties aside with one hand before bringing the vibrator to her vulva. He traced the outside of it, avoiding her clitoris, and she whined at the new sensation. He touched the vibrator to her clit for just a second and she twitched. He held it there for a second longer and she gasped. He touched it to her again and again until she was lifting her hips to meet it.

He pressed it to her clit and held it there, bringing her nearly to orgasm. He pulled it away before she could reach her precipice and she moaned. He brought it back after she had a minute to calm down and neared her to the edge again. She was about to come when the phone on Kaizen's desk rang.

She tried to sit up but he stood and pushed her back down, "What are you..." He held a finger to his lips and picked up the phone.

"Yes?" He had an annoyed undertone in his voice. Tia assumed this was going to be a quick call and that was why he made her stay laying down. She was wrong.

As the person on the other end of the call was talking, Kaizen pressed the vibrator back to Tia's clitoris. She put her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp and tried to push his hand away from her with the other. He smirked down at her. She glared at him and shook her head. He pushed the vibrator against her more firmly and she fell back on the desk, arching her back.

"When?" Kaizen held the phone to his head with his shoulder and stuck a finger inside of her. She put both hands to her mouth and held her breath to keep from screaming.

"I'll be right there." He said casually as he pumped his finger in and out of her. An orgasm wracked her body and he hung up the phone. The second he did, Tia threw her hands to her sides, gasping for air and moaning with every exhale. She snapped her legs closed as the sensation became too much and Kaizen drew his hands away.

She went limp and panted. She was fuming. She was about to give him a piece of her mind when she heard him unzip his pants. "Oh no." She sat up, "I am not doing this with you after what you just pulled." Before she could react, he pushed her back onto the desk and flipped her over so she was on her stomach. "What the fuck are you doing?"

He pushed her skirt up and pulled her panties down as she kicked and cursed at him. "Fucking hold still, Tia."

She felt him at her entrance, "Kaizen, if you do this, I will never fucking forgive you!" She shouted as he pushed into her.

"You listen to me, Tia." He grunted as he started thrusting, "You agreed to this, and you don't get to end it once you do. I make the rules." Tia shouted in frustration and continued to struggle as he fucked her. She grabbed anything she could get her hands on and threw it across the room. Pens went flying and files spilled open onto the floor. He gripped her ass painfully as he slammed into her.

She kicked and pushed and wailed but there was nothing she could do to stop him. Every time she started to think he wasn't so bad he did something like this. What was worse was that he enjoyed it. He relished the fact that she was an unwilling participant and he loved it when she fought him. She gripped the top of the desk as he pounded into her.

She could feel her body starting to react, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing she enjoyed this. "Just fucking finish already!" She regretted it as soon as she said it. He laughed and flipped her over. He grabbed the vibrator, turned it up to maximum power, and pressed it firmly to her clit as he continued to fuck her. She screamed at the intensity and clawed at his hand, but he held firm.

She came almost instantly, but he didn't remove the vibrator. She writhed and desperately tried to get the device away from her. "Please, Kaizen!" Her eyes rolled back into her head and she convulsed as another orgasm overtook her. Still, he didn't remove it. "Please! I'm sorry!" Her vision went blurry as a third orgasm wracked her body. "Please! I beg of you!" He took the vibrator away and thrust into her three more times before coming inside of her.

He fell over her on the desk and they both panted. Tears streamed down her cheeks. He must have noticed because he pushed her hair out of her face and kissed her. She clung to him and kissed him back, desperate for some form of comfort. She felt so alone. She only had him and he treated her like this. She felt like she was losing her mind. She knew she would if she didn't get away.

He broke the kiss and slowly pulled out of her. They didn't speak a word as he cleaned them up with some tissues and helped her to her feet. "You need to stop crying now." She nodded and he pulled her into him, but that made her cry harder. He held her and rubbed her back.

Tia smiled as she hid her face in his chest and sniffled softly. She had done it. She pushed him over the edge and he hurt her, although not in the way she expected him to. Her tears had been real at first, but she played it up once he kissed her. Now, she could pretend he had broken her and once he let his guard down, she could escape.

She took a few deep breaths to stop crying and waited until he released her to step away. He offered her a tissue and her hands shook as she took it, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. She eyed Kaizen cautiously as he straightened his tie. He looked at her and her eyes shot to the ground.

"I have something to attend to. Come with me." He said and she nodded, putting her heels back on and gathering some papers she had thrown off his desk, "Leave it." He commanded. She followed him out of his office, bowing her head and avoiding the gaze of Kaizen's secretary. "Send someone to clean my office." He addressed her as they walked past.

"Right away, My Emperor." The woman picked up the phone and began dialing.

Tia walked behind Kaizen as she was supposed to. They passed his brothers' offices and stopped in front of Keito's. The door was open and Keito was seated behind his desk. He stood as Kaizen spoke, "Show Tia the wedding plans. If she wants anything changed, get it done."

"Yes, My Emperor." Keito replied respectfully, but he was looking at Tia.

Kaizen turned to her, "I'll be back to collect you later." She nodded and he kissed her forehead before leaving.

Tia turned toward Keito, standing awkwardly near the door. He motioned toward her, "You can shut the door." Tia looked at it and back at him. "Relax." He said, "You're safe with me." For some reason, Tia believed him and shut the door to his office. Keito's office was set up similarly to Kaizen's but it was smaller. He walked to the seating area across from her and sat down. He projected his laptop to the screen on the opposite wall and motioned for her to sit down on the couch next to him.

"I'm fine standing." Tia wasn't sure what Kaizen would do to her if he thought she was coming on to his brother.

"Suit yourself." Keito shrugged, "I don't know how long he will be gone." He began pulling up pictures of a large outdoor venue with a red arch similar to the architecture of the palace. Rows of cushions encircled the arch. Tia realized this must be where she would be married in Kansai.

"It's beautiful." She admitted.

"It is." Keito agreed. He brought up more pictures of the venue, "Has anyone explained to you how the ceremony works yet?" Tia shook her head, "You will walk behind the Emperor up this aisle and will bow to him when you reach the end." Tia turned her attention to Keito. She did not know how weddings worked in Kansai and was grateful for the explanation. "You will bind yourself to the Emperor under the torii."

"How do I do that?" Tia asked.

Keito brought up a picture of a ribbon, "You will offer your hands up to the Emperor and he will take them in his if he accepts you. The next in line to the throne will tie your hands together using the binding cord and you will pledge yourself to the Emperor. You get to choose what you say in your pledge, but it must be something along the lines of, 'I pledge myself to you, My Emperor.'"

Tia nodded and Keito pulled up a picture of a banquet hall. "After the ceremony, there will be a feast in the Emperor's honor and gifts will be bestowed upon him. You may not eat until the Emperor has started eating but you must finish before him. That goes for all of us." Tia shifted her weight between her feet, "You really can sit down, you know." She contemplated his offer before giving in and sitting as far away from him as she could on the couch.

Keito walked her through the rules of the whole ordeal and Tia approved everything without changes, though she really didn't have much choice. Keito explained that most parts of the celebration were tradition and could not be changed, such as the color of the napkins and the types of flowers that could be decorated with. Tia understood. Kaizen had no control over the wedding in America, after all.

Keito finished explaining things to her and asked if she had any questions, "No, well actually, just one." He nodded for her to continue, "What happens after the celebration?"

Keito nodded, "You'll be prepared for the wedding night ceremony and then you'll spend a week in the countryside."

Tia looked at the floor. She didn't need to ask what happened at the wedding night ceremony. She hoped there was an opportunity for her to get away before then, although she doubted it.

"Were my family invited?" Tia glanced up nervously.

"Yes, an invitation was extended to them." Tia let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"Thank you." She said.

"Don't thank me." Keito shrugged, "I'm just following orders." He shut his laptop and stood up. "Have you had lunch yet? I'm starving." Tia shook her head, "Any preferences?" Tia shook her head again, "There's a really good pizza place not far from here. I'll have it brought in. What toppings do you like?"

"I like everything. What do you suggest?" Tia tried to sound agreeable.

Keito frowned at her, "You like everything? I get the margherita without basil."

Tia laughed, "So you just get a cheese pizza?"

Keito shrugged, "It's a fancy cheese pizza." He pulled out his phone and typed in his order before throwing it to her, "You choose. I don't know what's good with everything." Tia found an option that sounded good and handed the phone back to Keito. "Have you had a tour yet?" He asked her.

"No." Tia said, "But I don't want to distract you from your work." She added quickly.

Keito laughed, "My work, huh?" Tia looked confused, "I'll let you in on a little secret: there isn't much of anything left for the youngest when there are six brothers."

Tia understood being overlooked as the youngest child who wasn't heir to the throne, but she was probably not nearly as neglected as Keito. There was always something for her to help Dane with in America. Now, she was useless. She guessed she and Keito were in similar places of power. "I guess there wouldn't be." She agreed, "I'd enjoy a tour."

Keito took Tia around the inner courtyard of the capitol building. The building itself was a square that surrounded the courtyard. It was about three stories tall and was built in a colonial style unlike the palace. It had grand columns that reminded Tia of home. The courtyard, on the other hand, was a traditional Kansai garden similar to the one on the palace grounds. Tia loved the water features and manicured pathways shaded by trees.

Keito brought Tia to the different administrative offices that carried out the Emperor's will and introduced her to Kaizen's department heads. They were courteous, but somewhat wary of her. Keito brought her to the legal department and introduced her to the supreme attorney.

As they were leaving the legal department, Keito asked her, "Did you ever want to be an attorney?"

Tia thought for a moment, then answered, "No, but I definitely wanted to work in government. I am better suited for policy making."

Keito nodded, "That's understandable. My girlfriend is an attorney. She likes it, but she works long hours." Tia was surprised that Keito had a girlfriend. She didn't expect him or his brothers to be allowed to date. She certainly wasn't. Her surprise must have shown on her face because he said, "I know. I know. How'd did he pull an attorney?" He chuckled, "Well, what can I say? I'm a catch." He gave her the same cocky smile he had that morning. Tia was surprised she was talking to the same person.

They talked as they headed back to Keito's office and Tia actually liked him. He was immature, sure, but he was also funny and didn't ignore her. The pizza was waiting for them when they got back and, Keito was right, it was delicious.

"How's yours?" He asked her, "It looks disgusting. I hate olives."

Tia laughed, "It's very good, thank you very much!" She picked up one of the olives that had fallen off a slice and popped it into her mouth. She grinned at him as he grimaced at her.

"You know," Tia started, "You probably shouldn't flirt with your sister-in-law, especially when you have a girlfriend." She teased.

Keito blushed, "Yeah, sorry about that." He rubbed the back of his neck, "I'd say someone put me up to it, but they didn't. I just thought you were different because of last night, you know?"

Tia's smile disappeared, "I understand."

Tia could tell he wanted to ask about the night before, but he didn't and she didn't volunteer anything. It would be better for him to imagine all the horrible things Kaizen could have done to her. Then it wouldn't be such a shock when Tia shut down.

Keito changed the subject, "Do you like video games? I just got this new one that two people can play and it's super fun!"

"I've never played before." Tia admitted. There wasn't much time for hobbies back home and she enjoyed reading.

"Seriously? We have to play then!" Keito threw away his pizza box and wiped his hands on his pants before retrieving two controllers from his desk drawer. Tia wiped her hands on a napkin and accepted the controller from him. Keito booted up the game and began teaching her how to play. "It's an open-world game so you can pretty much do whatever you want."

He explained the basic mechanics and Tia got the hang of it pretty quickly. Her problem, according to Keito, was that she had no direction. He kept trying to get her to advance the game, but all Tia was interested in doing was picking up every item she could get her hands on. So, they played Tia's way with Keito protecting her from enemies while she emptied every nook and cranny of the village they started in.

They played the game for the rest of the afternoon and Tia was enjoying herself. Keito pretended to be annoyed that she wasn't playing correctly but he was smiling the whole time.

Tia was rummaging through a house while Keito fought something big outside when two soldiers burst into Keito's office. Tia froze as their eyes locked on her and they rushed toward her.

"Hey! What's going on?" Keito shouted. They grabbed Tia and began taking her away.

"You're needed in the grand court, Your Highness." One of them said. Tia looked at Keito, her eyes pleading with him to do something.

"Let go of her." Keito commanded. They stopped but did not release Tia.

"I apologize, Your Highness, but it is The Emperor's orders that she be taken before the grand court." Tia's eyes widened.

Keito took a deep breath, "There's no need for such force. Release her into my custody and I will take her."

The soldiers looked at each other before letting go of Tia. "Yes, Your Highness, but we must insist on escorting you."

"Very well." Keito said. He gently took Tia by the arm and began walking her down the hall. He leaned over and whispered to her, "Listen to me, this is very serious. I don't know what he thinks you've done, but if he's taking you to the grand court, you're in deep shit."

Keito glanced behind him. The soldiers were following five paces behind and were not close enough to hear him. "Do not speak unless you are directly asked a question. When you are asked a question, do not lie. If you cannot answer it, say that." They turned a corner with a large set of double doors at the end. He stopped them and turned to her. "Go with them now. I'll try to help you if I can."

Tia nodded, "Thank you."

"You can take her from here." Keito addressed the soldiers. They each grabbed one of Tia's arms and hurried her to the doors.

They opened them and pulled her to the middle of the room. She was surrounded by people sitting behind curved, tiered benches. In the center at the top sat Kaizen. Fury radiated off of him.

The soldiers took a knee and pulled Tia to hers. Her knees hit the floor and she bowed her head as she winced in pain.

"Princess Tia Fulbright of America." Kaizen boomed, "You have been brought before the grand court accused of treason."