Disclaimer: I don't own La Corda D'oro
~Extra Package~
If someone that jams your mind for years is standing in front of you, what will you do? Ryoutarou did what he thinks the best, gape. "Long time no see, Tsuchiura."
Chapter I: Low Battery
The place hushed and only the sound of the calm breathing and the rustling of clothes and the soft silk blanket echoed in the night.
A woman slid off the blanket in time with the boisterous silence, a morose sigh left her thinned lips. "This is a mistake…"
Kring!
It was another day. The sun's rays reflected on the glass mirror, as though hands that would love to touch—annoy—the man peacefully sleeping in the bed. His brows furrowed from the noise of his telephone just about his side table. Added with the scalding heat of the sun, that was indicating it was far of the midday.
Once he opened his eyes, the pain of his headache exploded like a bomb, as though his head was being split into two. He cussed, winced, and cussed more derogatory he knew existed. He knew it! Drowning himself with alcohol was never been good, even once it didn't. As always it would give him a head shattering nuisance, and probably more of it.
He warily shifted from his bed and scrutinized his surroundings.
He was in his room, resting in his bed with…
He transferred his gaze at the side. A sigh of relief left his lips when he found a vacant space at the left side of the bed. It must be rumpled with his movements while sleeping but he knew no one occupied it the whole time. Only him, alone. The thought that he was alone lessened the ache of his head. He didn't bring a woman was good. Better.
He wouldn't allow himself to indulge to such a thing again. Never. To avoid more pain, not just to his pocket, but also to his heart.
Feeling a little bit exhausted and spent, he opted to take another rest, effectively ignoring the continuous rings of the phone he had been ignoring since last night.
It's just her. Why bother.
~NeKo Meow~
"Tsuchiura-san, Tsuchiura-san," his assistant called repeatedly, knocking on his door louder to grab his attention.
With the noise and banging, Ryoutarou Tsuchiura got up from his bed and strode languidly toward his room door. He extended his arms at his side to ease the stiffness of his muscles. "Who's there?"
No one answered, but the banging continued.
"I said who's there?"
"Tsuchiura-san, someone is looking for you." His assistant replied tentatively. It was as if he was stopping someone thus he was unable to answer faster.
Ryoutarou grunted. It must be her again. "I'll be there in a minute. Please tell, whoever he or she is, I'm not going anywhere. She doesn't need to break my door."
After the words being said, the banging hushed into an unnerving silence. The thought just gave shivers through Ryoutarou. Whatever that might befall later, he hopes he still survives.
After thirty minutes of preparation. Taking a bath, drinking aspirin for his migraine, Ryoutarou went on to meet the visitor.
"Finally."
"Yeah, finally." Ryoutarou rolled his eyes with a shrug before slumping himself in the comfort of his couch. He leaned his back over the pillow and relaxed. "What brought you here?"
"I've been calling you since last night. Why didn't you answer?" the lady-like voice shrieked in utter annoyance. She should be resting and enjoying her own vacation however, this man in front of her was a living hell she could not possibly leave behind, unattended.
"Oh, sorry I didn't notice."
Something in his words was evasive. The woman crossed her arms against her chest and frowned. The deepness of her cyan eyes bore holes on Ryoutarou's forehead. "I don't believe you. Mr. Kurosaki told me everything. You went somewhere last night. Drunk and spent that you couldn't even go home by yourself. A taxi dropped you here." The lady paused, flicking her wrist and pointed to his assistant. "The manager of the bar was threatening to file a complaint. You did a good job making chaos in his place."
"Should we celebrate?" Ryoutarou mocked.
"For goodness sake, Ryoutarou Tsuchiura!"
"Take it easy there. I'm just joking."
"This isn't a joke nor a game Tsuchiura. You know well, very well, that you are recognized. A celebrity. People know you. People talk about you. Everything you do, people have updates. Do you think it's good for your career if they found out about your ill-behavior? Gosh, good thing the taxi man didn't recognize you."
"He didn't. End of the story." Ryoutarou half smiled and half smirked, testing the limit this volcano in front of him. He silently laughed. He admitted that this volcano could be labeled as one of those actives. She would always erupt, spitting out the magma to burn Ryoutarou with the lava and would love to see him crumble. He was her personal nuisance after all. Ever since she stepped in the door of his life and admitted him to guidance and named herself as his manager her life changed as though she just migrated in the pit of hell.
Noyi Nakamura, a woman who branded herself not just Ryoutarou's manager but also a second mom. Since the day she stepped foot in the university Ryoutarou was enrolled and saw the potential he had in piano, she pursued and helped him to nurture the talent and let the world to see.
"Fortunately, you still have your luck." Noyi sighed in defeat. That was not her purpose there, anyway. "Let's leave that topic. I'm here for a different reason."
"Talk." Ryoutarou straightened up, feeling the odd shiver from earlier. Whatever it was, it gave him creeps. Suddenly, Ryoutarou noticed how exhausted he was again, as if the time he had spent sleeping wasn't enough. The energy in his body started to drain. He cursed his hangover.
"There's someone who wants to talk to you." Noyi crossed her legs, the flicker in her eyes left unseen in Ryoutarou's somnolent stare.
"Who?" Ryoutarou yawned. Probably because of the aspirin. He thought. It must be because of the medicine. He often feels drowsy or sleepy when taking medicine. Any kind.
"See for yourself. In your office."
Ryoutarou nodded his head, stood up and walked toward what it seemed the office. His penthouse was decent and huge, provided with five bedrooms (each has bathroom), one office room, a library, living room and two dining rooms and a huge and exquisite veranda at the side that graced with the eloquent beauty of the horizon. He owed his success and wealth from his hard work and a good manager like Noyi. He would not have acquired such things without her.
Heaving a deep sigh, Ryoutarou turned the knob of the door, looking straight at his chair placed unharmed in the center with his oak table. He moved inside and looked around.
"Long time no see, Tsuchiura."
"You? What…" Ryoutarou paused, pursing his lips to ease the tremor of shock wavered his whole form. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that how to greet your old acquaintance?"
Hearing the word acquaintance seemed so wrong. Ryoutarou shook his head and masked his shock with a small smile. "Sorry. Excuse my earlier behavior. I was…it was…" he inhaled. "It was a surprised."
"Oh! I haven't told you the surprise yet." The person mumbled to herself.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing." She feigned a smile. "I just want to invite you."
"Invite you where? What?" Ryoutarou started walking, noticing that he had stopped from his track when he saw her face, her presence. She never changed. "What is it?"
"Nothing in particular." The lady smiled again, waited for him to walk closer within arm length before giving a seeming invitation.
"Ok…" Ryoutarou arched his brow in query. "So, what is this all about?"
The woman shrugged. In Ryoutarou's view, she seemed like mocking, especially when her blue eyes darted to his direction. "Just the first birthday of your son."
In that instant, a faint voice in his mind screamed weakly…low bat low bat. You're in your limit.
Damn, he hates hangover.
Authoress Corner:
That was it. O.O After five days indulging myself with mystery novels. (Well, this isn't a mystery, but that's how my brain works. I still read two romance novels though) Furthermore, one of it gives me an idea for this story. I was reading the beginning of Chapter One then 'poof' this story was born. Hope it's ok. It'll be until Chapter 6 only.
Review is very welcome.
Next Chapter Preview: The Key
"I admit, it's April, but no, this is not April Fool's day. If you're hoping it is, sorry. This is real, Tsuchiura. Well, surprise."
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