FAREWELLS AND HELLOS
(This presupposes that our two favorite geniuses finally got together. This is also a tribute to that great fanfic by Miguel Artadi, "Then And Now", which served as the inspiration and basis for this fic.
To M.A.: Man, you rock! I would've sent this to you first but you didn't post an email address.)
And to LUNA STOP SWEARING ( Hope I got that right ), the author of "Moonlight Sonata", I hope you don't mind if I borrowed the term 'ONIKUMI". Yours is another fic that I eagerly wait in anticipation for updates. You rock as well!
"Hello? Yoshito?"
"Speaking. Oh Urumi. Hi there. Sorry I wasn't able to answer immediately. Had to finish a client-call last night so I got home at around 4AM. To what do I owe this sudden phone call?"
"Idiot. I know when you got home. You programmed my network-PC to alert me about those things, remember?"
"He-he-he. Just had to be sure. What's on your mind?"
"Are you free tonight? I need to discuss some things with you. I'd like to do it now actually but I'm caught up with my own share of work."
"Tonight? No problem. What time do I pick you up?"
"No need. I'll just meet you there. Same place, okay?"
"Hmm...getting a bit secretive aren't we, Kanzaki?"
"Idiot. You keep saying that and I'll bring the snakes."
"I'll settle for a scalding cappuccino, ma'am."
"Fine. I'll see you later then. Bye."
"Bye."
"That was quick. I wonder what she's got in store for me later?" Yoshito thought as he put down the phone in his office.
He and Urumi were an item now, actually. This however, was known only to a select few of their friends and colleagues. Even then, the ONIKUMI were bound to keep their silence about it or face dire consequences. Onizuka and Azusa knew about them as well but they too, chose to stay mum about it.
An occasionally insane Kanzaki was scary enough back in junior high, but a mature Kanzaki was downright terrifying. Kikuchi was no less scary and now that the two were together, the 'CARNAGE' they could cause would be unimaginable. Kikuchi recalled how Murai summed it all up the last time the Onikumi were together. He and Kanzaki had invited the others to a late dinner just to break the news to them. As Fujiyoshi related Kanzaki's 'terroristic-tendencies' to the adage 'HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED', Murai added that whoever wrote that had yet to meet Kikuchi WITH Kanzaki. Laughter had erupted from the rest as they proceeded with their dinner.
"I guess Onizuka was right after all. She and I DO complement each other," Kikuchi thought as he turned his attention back to his work.
Tonight would be their tenth 'official' date already and that was just in a span of two months. This, of course, did not include the many others which they had deemed as casual or non-official dating (His ever-efficient brain insisted on categorizing their dates for future reference, something that Onizuka found weird when Kikuchi had slipped once and told him about it.). He had been to a few of her client calls and vice-versa. Not a few were impressed by the fact that he personally knew one of the heads of one of Japan's major corporations. In fact, half of the new business that came in was because of it.
He was derailed from his thoughts when his comm. gave off a message alert. It was Yumi, his secretary.
"I'd just like to inform you, sir that three of the new projects you gave are already finished and are prepped for installation tomorrow. The rest are now in their final testing stages," she said.
"Okay. Harvey and Kenta's team will oversee the installation. Have them contact me when they're done.'
"Yes, sir."
"And by the way, Yumi, make sure they get the bonuses I promised. They've finished a full week ahead of schedule. And cancel my meeting with Haybusa Industries tonight. Tell them that I'll meet with them this weekend."
"Duly noted, sir."
Kikuchi had to smile a bit. His team had once again performed brilliantly, finishing the security-suite ahead of time. It had only been a few years but in that span of time, he had built a reputation of making highly effective security-software and finishing them ahead of time.
"I almost forgot...." Kikuchi thought as he alerted his secretary. "One last thing Yumi, inform Harvey that both Kensuke Holdings and Togusa Prime Inc. will be sending their payments through wire-transfer to our other account. The bank is having their broadband-network updated."
"Yes, sir. Will that be all?"
"Yes. Thanks."
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"How is she, doc?" Kanzaki asked the doctor over the Internet.
"She's stable now and she's just sleeping. We had to give her a massive dose of medicine as her blood-pressure stayed unusually high even after initial medication. But I'm afraid that she won't be as active anymore," replied the doctor.
"What do you mean?"
"It would be highly detrimental for her to resume her hectic lifestyle. Any one else would've been dead by now in fact it's a testament to your mother's health and will that she survived but even so, she cannot go back to all her duties anymore. A slight stroke is still a stroke," the doctor replied.
"I see. Please keep me posted, doctor. I will be there immediately. I'll just finish some things back here," Kanzaki stated.
"Why does it have to be now?!!" she thought angrily as she almost flung the phone at the wall. Then her shoulders sagged. "I guess I'll have to tell him."
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Kikuchi had chosen the same table where they sat the night they met and had dinner for the first time after so many years. By some strange coincidence, he was even wearing the same shirt he wore back then under his jacket.
Kanzaki showed up after half an hour. She was wearing the black dress she wore when Onizuka met her for the first time, when he thought she was at least nineteen years old. It was stunning to Onizuka then but the effect on Kikuchi was double, causing him to stare at her. He was still quite dazed when Kanzaki came up to him.
"So I take it you like the dress?" she teased. She saw him squirm a bit in his seat when he realized he was caught staring like an idiot.
He berated himself as his hormone-induced stupor clashed with his no- nonsense, intellectual persona. "At least you fill it out better now. I can't imagine how Onizuka thought he met a nineteen-year-old beauty in that getup," he remarked, quickly finding a rejoinder.
Kanzaki's eyes widened. "He told you?!"
He smiled. "I have my ways of finding out. Have a seat," Kikuchi replied as he stood up and pulled the chair out for Kanzaki.
Kikuchi had preordered the dinner course and signaled the waiter to start serving. The two were soon having a nice, quiet dinner.
As Kikuchi sipped his aperitif, he decided to ask Kanzaki why they were here tonight. He took her hand. "So what's the reason for this sudden rendezvous, Urumi? Couldn't get enough of me?" he teased.
"Very funny, Yoshito. I've had a sample already and I'm just about fed up," she teased back.
They laughed a bit for a while then Kanzaki suddenly turned serious.
"Can you pay the bill now, Yoshito? I'd like to talk elsewhere, if you don't mind," she asked.
It was evident in the way she played with her food that there was something on her mind.
"Elsewhere? I don't see why we have to be elsewhere but, okay. I'll just get the bill," he replied.
Kikuchi and Kanzaki then headed towards the exit after settling the bill. They waited as the valet retrieved Kikuchi's car then drove off.
"So where do you want to go, Urumi?" Kikuchi asked.
"Just drive for now, okay? I'll tell you where we'll go," she replied.
"She seems awfully quiet today. Odd, but then again, this IS Urumi Kanzaki," Kikuchi thought to himself.
Kikuchi did as she asked. After a few silent minutes of driving, she told him to turn into the next corner. They found themselves in front of a hotel, the kind where trysts often took place. Kikuchi frowned in confusion and was about to ask why Kanzaki wanted to go to such a place when she got her phone and dialled a number. After a short conversation, an attendant appeared and motioned for them to follow him and park their car into the garage. His head was full of questions as he followed Kanzaki into the elevator. Their gazes met as they stood beside each other. His was a cool, unfazed visage which almost effectively hid his emotions while Kanzaki just smiled lightly at him. The doors opened onto the topmost floor and they proceeded to a flight of stairs. He looked at Kanzaki again and the only thing she said was 'penthouse'.
They arrived at the room whereby the attendant gave Kanzaki the keys. He was about to explain a bit more about the amenities when Kanzaki just pressed a wad of yen into his hands and motioned for him to leave immediately. She then turned to face a very curious and nervous Kikuchi.
"Urumi, what's the meaning of this..." was all that Kikuchi could get out as she silenced him by suddenly kissing him. He didn't respond at first but his emotions and the sensation of having Kanzaki pressed against him overrode his initial hesitation. His arms soon went around her waist and shoulders.
Kanzaki broke the kiss after while then pressed her finger onto his lips as she saw that Kikuchi was about to form a question. She then pulled him towards the bed and Kikuchi found himself unable to resist.
"All I want to do is to be with you for now, Yoshito. You could say no, but please don't," she whispered.
Having no reply, Kikuchi obliged as he let Kanzaki remove his glasses.
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Kikuchi woke up to the soft sound of rain pelting against the picture- window of their suite. He found his glasses and scanned the room. He saw Kanzaki wrapped in the bedsheets, a cigarette in her hands as she looked outside. He got up and went to her.
"I see you're awake," Kanzaki softly stated as she felt Kikuchi wrap his arms around her. She turned around to kiss him anew as she stuffed the cigarette into the ashtray, extinguishing it.
"I believe you were going to ask me a question, Yoshito," she chided as they broke the kiss. Kikuchi smiled gently and took her hand into his own.
"Why?" he asked simply, causing Kanzaki to laugh. She caressed his cheek.
"Why not? I mean, isn't it obvious, Yoshi-kun? I like you. I like you a lot. I guess I liked you so much that I started doing so even before I was aware of it. I believe I'm just letting out the last of my pent up emotions. Like you said, I only KNEW things back then," she replied.
Kikuchi stayed silent for a while after her reply.
"Is that all I am to you then, a release of frustrated emotions and desires?" Kikuchi asked quietly. He was about to say more when he saw that a single tear had formed in Kanzaki's eyes as she tried to hold back her feelings. He saw her raise her hand and braced himself for a slap but it didn't come. Instead, she lowered her arm and took his face into her hands.
"No, Yoshito. It's not like that. It can never be just like that," Kanzaki replied in between choked sobs as her tears began to fall.
Kikuchi regretted what his last statement caused and he held her even closer, soothing her.
"I'm sorry. I really am. It's just that..." Kikuchi began but stopped halfway.
"It's just what?" she asked.
Kikuchi grinned sheepishly at her then answered, "Well, you could say I've been dreaming about something like this happening for so long and to suddenly find myself actually here is.....incredible."
"Ah, I see. So this is just a fulfillment of your hormone-induced, teenage- fantasies," Kanzaki chided, somehow echoing the statement he had made previously about her emotions and desires.
Now it was his turn to explain. "Well, no. Yes. I mean, not exactly. Yeeeeessshhh!!!" Kikuchi replied, obviously flustered.
Kanzaki could hardly contain her laughter through her tears.
"Wow. It's not everyday that I see the great Kikuchi Yoshito at a loss for words," she teased.
Kikuchi smarted somewhat at her remark. "Hmm...time to put out the big guns," he thought.
"Well, what would YOU say in my place if the woman you had been dreaming about and loving from afar for so long suddenly took you to a hotel against your will?" he said, feigning embarrassment.
Expecting a witty retort, Kikuchi was surprised when her only answer was a pillow, whacked against his head. She then turned serious as the full implication of Kikuchi's words hit her.
"Do you really mean that?" she asked.
"Of course I do, Urumi."
She stared at him in the darkness and Kikuchi was sure she could see the slight smirk on his face. Kanzaki embraced him suddenly.
"I'm so glad you said that, although at the same time I wish you didn't because it makes things so much harder for me," Kanzaki said with more melancholy in her voice.
Kikuchi's heartbeat sped up a few notches. He did NOT like the sound of this. "What do you mean?"
"I have to leave Japan again," Kanzaki began.
"Okay..."
"For good."
He didn't say anything.
"My mother suffered a stroke recently and I've been busy attending meetings and discussing with the board of directors. So far, the damage to the business has been minimal but the same could not be said for Mom. She can't work again," she explained.
Kikuchi stared at her and had a good idea of where this conversation was leading.
"You have to take her place, don't you."
Kanzaki nodded in assent.
It was Kikuchi's turn to light up a cigarette.
"Talk about getting what you want and losing it in the same night...." he said in irony to no one in particular.
Kanzaki wanted to say something to Kikuchi just to alleviate the pain she knew he must be feeling but she couldn't think of anything to say.
"So when are you leaving?" he finally asked.
"In two days. I've already arranged everything and the rest will be handled by our staff. Yoshito, I'm so..."
Kikuchi shook his head as he snuffed out his cigarette. He retrieved his clothes.
"We'd best get dressed. It's late. I'll bring you home," he said simply.
Neither of them said a word during the trip back. Kikuchi dropped Kanzaki off at her hotel. She got down but turned back and looked at him.
Kikuchi was smiling at her. "Take care of yourself, Kanzaki."
Kanzaki had not expected that. She forced herself to smile, but she knew that if she attempted to say anything, she'd cry.
Kikuchi started to pull away then stopped. Opening the window, he looked out.
"Oh, and lose the snakes. Guns are legal in America and are more effective in keeping jerks away."
He drove off, leaving Kanzaki standing on the pavement.
Kanzaki was sitting in the lounge as she waited for her flight. The Kanzaki company jet was being refueled and in a few minutes, she would be off to Boston.
Lost in thought, she saw a group of students and their teachers about to board a small chartered-plane. The plane had familiar markings and she realized it looked exactly like the one that took their junior high batch to Okinawa years ago. No doubt the students were going on a field-trip not unlike the one they had. It made her smile as she remembered her classmates and their adventures there. Everything came back to her: Murai's indignation at almost anything, Yoshikawa's rescue, the stupid ghost-hunt, the three Gundam-otakus, and finally, the snake in Onizuka's pants. She laughed to herself as she recalled Onizuka serving as her mount while Kikuchi had been tied up near a tree, both at the receiving end of her wrath for colluding over a crazy treasure hunt.
Her memories were interrupted by a light hand on her shoulder. Kanzaki turned and saw Tomoko smiling at her, her pretty face hidden behind a pair of oversized shades, a bandana around her head. Behind her were Onizuka and his wife, Azusa.
"Good for them," Kanzaki thought as her eyes fell on her former teachers, now happily married.
The rest of the Onikumi were there as well. She saw that they all looked more mature now. The years had done them good.
"Yep, looks like they're all here except.....him," she thought, sighing.
"What time's the plane leaving?" Azusa asked her.
"In a few minutes. It's just refueling," Kanzaki answered.
"So we got here in time. Try to keep in touch, okay? We want to hear from you as soon as you're there," Murai said.
"And feel free to call us anytime. I won't mind because you'll be in Boston," Onizuka said, causing her to giggle a bit.
"I'll be there in two months for a show. I'll try to visit you," Tomoko added.
"I'd like that. Be sure to call me," Kanzaki said.
Fujiyoshi and Kusano gave her a large stuffed snake as a souvenir, making her laugh.
Despite herself and the presence of her friends, Kanzaki couldn't help but eye her surroundings and the various people that came into the airport. She was hoping against hope that Kikuchi would change his mind and come to see her off. But much to her dismay, he was nowhere to be found. Her friends noticed her expression and looked at each other knowingly.
"I called him but all I got was an answering-machine. I even left five messages," Tomoko told her gently.
"You didn't have to do that, Tomo-chan, but thanks," Kanzaki replied, smiling at her friend gratefully.
"Probably got caught up in one of his meetings. You know how he is," Murai said, trying to find some excuse that would somehow lessen Kanzaki's disappointment.
Kanzaki turned to Murai, seeing through his ploy. "You're a good friend, Kunio. Take care, okay?" she said, squeezing his hand lightly.
She turned to the rest. "I'll miss you all!" she declared, choking back on a sob.
They opened their arms and enveloped her in a big hug.
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"We'll have a short stopover in Hawaii, ma'am," the flight-attendant explained as she handed Kanzaki her drink and a few magazines. After the final confirmations had been made, the plane had taken off and was now airborne.
Except for the pilots and two flight attendants, Kanzaki was alone on the plane. She had chosen to go ahead of the other directors as she didn't feel like discussing business with them, something she was sure she couldn't have avoided had they been around. It was turning out to be an uneventful flight as far as she was concerned but she was thankful for it. It gave her time to think, or rather, NOT to think. Moments like these were indeed a rare luxury for Kanzaki whose brain was almost always in overdrive.
She was about to settle into a nap when one of the attendants came to her.
"Ma'am, there's a phone call for you," she informed Kanzaki.
Kanzaki frowned slightly as she expected it to be one of the directors who were already in Boston.
"Can't they even wait for me to get there?" she muttered irritably. To the attendant, she said, "I'll take the call," grabbing the phone.
"What?!" she said rudely, not even bothering to ask who was at the other end.
"I see your mood hasn't changed. Still the same sweet girl I used to know," a familiar voice drawled over the line.
"What the....? Kikuchi?" she asked, suddenly sitting up.
"Oh, so we're back to surnames, then?""
"Where are you? You didn't even see me off at the airport!"
"I had an important meeting, but that's not the point. Kanzaki, the staff at the hotel we went to seemed awfully familiar with you and your habits. Do you go there often?"
Kanzaki was taken aback. Did he call her just to ask her a stupid question? And what was he implying, anyway? "Of course they know me! Kanzaki Enterprises owns that hotel!"
"No need to shout. I was just asking, and this is an expensive call to waste on shouting at me, don't you think?"
Kanzaki was confused at the way their conversion was going that she began to get irritated. "Why don't you just answer my question? Why didn't you see me off? You disappeared after that night and I didn't hear anything from you. I called and left messages but nothing! Even Tomoko called you! And now all you can tell me is that you had a stupid meeting?!"
"Right, genius."
"Don't patronize me, Kikuchi Yoshito! You owe me an explanation!"
"What I meant was, look to your RIGHT."
"If this is another one of your stupid games I'm gonna..." Kanzaki stopped in mid-sentence as she turned her head and saw another jet flying right beside hers.
"Don't bother looking for me in the passenger window. I'm flying the plane."
Kanzaki stared at the plane blankly. He was flying that? Ridiculous! She opened her mouth to launch another tirade when something occurred to her. Was it possible?
"You did all this for me? I mean, you took a plane just to follow me to Boston?" she asked.
"Idiot. Of course not. I have a business meeting in Chicago since I'm moving my company's headquarters there."
"Company headquarters? Whose company? What do you mean..." And then she saw the decals on the jet Kikuchi was flying and Kanzaki's jaw dropped.
K-SECURITY SYSTEMS...one of Japan's foremost IT-Security systems company...."K".......did "K" stand for...?
"Are you telling me you're flying your company's plane?" she exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Bingo, genius."
Kanzaki was speechless. Kikuchi was the head of his own company, and all this time she didn't know. And it wasn't just any company: it was one of Japan's most noted and fastest-rising IT-Companies. Even Kanzaki Enterprises was among their clients.
Kanzaki wanted to hit her head on the wall. How could she have overlooked that fact about one of their major business partners?
"I see you're in an old Lear Jet. A bit slow but it does get the job done," Kikuchi observed.
His remark brought her back. "Old? Why you....." she sputtered.
He chuckled. "Have a safe flight to Boston. I'll see you there in three days. Take care...Urumi,"
Her heart skipped a beat. He called me 'Urumi' again! "Wait!" she cried.
"See you around, slowpoke." Kikuchi's plane sped off, leaving Kanzaki's plane behind, and the line went dead.
Kanzaki stared at the phone in her hand. Kikuchi had just insulted her but Kanzaki couldn't care less. She was giddy with happiness, the same way she felt when he first asked her out. A smile slowly formed on her lips.
"Capt. Tyler, we'll have a change in flight schedule."
"Yes, ma'am. Where to?"
"Chicago. And step on it."
"You think he really did?" Azusa asked as she sat beside her husband on a bench in Inogashira Park.
"Yep. I've no doubt about it," Eikichi replied as he watched their son running around. "I told him NOT to be an idiot and go after her. His company's big enough and for goodness' sake, he can run it from Boston or Chicago seamlessly. He's not a genius for nothing, you know."
Azusa sighed. "Well I hope you're right, Eikichi. It's about time those two finally got together."
"You know I'm right. I'm their GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA, remember?"
Azusa laughed. "How could I ever forget?" she said.
She regarded her husband fondly. He was seldom wrong about his students. And for all his craziness and perversion, Eikichi's heart was always in the right place, especially when it came to them. His students knew that. So did she. And it was that heart that they all trusted.
As Azusa looked out over the park, she smiled to herself. Wherever they were now, she knew without a doubt that Kikuchi and Kanzaki were indeed going to be happy together.
(This presupposes that our two favorite geniuses finally got together. This is also a tribute to that great fanfic by Miguel Artadi, "Then And Now", which served as the inspiration and basis for this fic.
To M.A.: Man, you rock! I would've sent this to you first but you didn't post an email address.)
And to LUNA STOP SWEARING ( Hope I got that right ), the author of "Moonlight Sonata", I hope you don't mind if I borrowed the term 'ONIKUMI". Yours is another fic that I eagerly wait in anticipation for updates. You rock as well!
"Hello? Yoshito?"
"Speaking. Oh Urumi. Hi there. Sorry I wasn't able to answer immediately. Had to finish a client-call last night so I got home at around 4AM. To what do I owe this sudden phone call?"
"Idiot. I know when you got home. You programmed my network-PC to alert me about those things, remember?"
"He-he-he. Just had to be sure. What's on your mind?"
"Are you free tonight? I need to discuss some things with you. I'd like to do it now actually but I'm caught up with my own share of work."
"Tonight? No problem. What time do I pick you up?"
"No need. I'll just meet you there. Same place, okay?"
"Hmm...getting a bit secretive aren't we, Kanzaki?"
"Idiot. You keep saying that and I'll bring the snakes."
"I'll settle for a scalding cappuccino, ma'am."
"Fine. I'll see you later then. Bye."
"Bye."
"That was quick. I wonder what she's got in store for me later?" Yoshito thought as he put down the phone in his office.
He and Urumi were an item now, actually. This however, was known only to a select few of their friends and colleagues. Even then, the ONIKUMI were bound to keep their silence about it or face dire consequences. Onizuka and Azusa knew about them as well but they too, chose to stay mum about it.
An occasionally insane Kanzaki was scary enough back in junior high, but a mature Kanzaki was downright terrifying. Kikuchi was no less scary and now that the two were together, the 'CARNAGE' they could cause would be unimaginable. Kikuchi recalled how Murai summed it all up the last time the Onikumi were together. He and Kanzaki had invited the others to a late dinner just to break the news to them. As Fujiyoshi related Kanzaki's 'terroristic-tendencies' to the adage 'HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED', Murai added that whoever wrote that had yet to meet Kikuchi WITH Kanzaki. Laughter had erupted from the rest as they proceeded with their dinner.
"I guess Onizuka was right after all. She and I DO complement each other," Kikuchi thought as he turned his attention back to his work.
Tonight would be their tenth 'official' date already and that was just in a span of two months. This, of course, did not include the many others which they had deemed as casual or non-official dating (His ever-efficient brain insisted on categorizing their dates for future reference, something that Onizuka found weird when Kikuchi had slipped once and told him about it.). He had been to a few of her client calls and vice-versa. Not a few were impressed by the fact that he personally knew one of the heads of one of Japan's major corporations. In fact, half of the new business that came in was because of it.
He was derailed from his thoughts when his comm. gave off a message alert. It was Yumi, his secretary.
"I'd just like to inform you, sir that three of the new projects you gave are already finished and are prepped for installation tomorrow. The rest are now in their final testing stages," she said.
"Okay. Harvey and Kenta's team will oversee the installation. Have them contact me when they're done.'
"Yes, sir."
"And by the way, Yumi, make sure they get the bonuses I promised. They've finished a full week ahead of schedule. And cancel my meeting with Haybusa Industries tonight. Tell them that I'll meet with them this weekend."
"Duly noted, sir."
Kikuchi had to smile a bit. His team had once again performed brilliantly, finishing the security-suite ahead of time. It had only been a few years but in that span of time, he had built a reputation of making highly effective security-software and finishing them ahead of time.
"I almost forgot...." Kikuchi thought as he alerted his secretary. "One last thing Yumi, inform Harvey that both Kensuke Holdings and Togusa Prime Inc. will be sending their payments through wire-transfer to our other account. The bank is having their broadband-network updated."
"Yes, sir. Will that be all?"
"Yes. Thanks."
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"How is she, doc?" Kanzaki asked the doctor over the Internet.
"She's stable now and she's just sleeping. We had to give her a massive dose of medicine as her blood-pressure stayed unusually high even after initial medication. But I'm afraid that she won't be as active anymore," replied the doctor.
"What do you mean?"
"It would be highly detrimental for her to resume her hectic lifestyle. Any one else would've been dead by now in fact it's a testament to your mother's health and will that she survived but even so, she cannot go back to all her duties anymore. A slight stroke is still a stroke," the doctor replied.
"I see. Please keep me posted, doctor. I will be there immediately. I'll just finish some things back here," Kanzaki stated.
"Why does it have to be now?!!" she thought angrily as she almost flung the phone at the wall. Then her shoulders sagged. "I guess I'll have to tell him."
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Kikuchi had chosen the same table where they sat the night they met and had dinner for the first time after so many years. By some strange coincidence, he was even wearing the same shirt he wore back then under his jacket.
Kanzaki showed up after half an hour. She was wearing the black dress she wore when Onizuka met her for the first time, when he thought she was at least nineteen years old. It was stunning to Onizuka then but the effect on Kikuchi was double, causing him to stare at her. He was still quite dazed when Kanzaki came up to him.
"So I take it you like the dress?" she teased. She saw him squirm a bit in his seat when he realized he was caught staring like an idiot.
He berated himself as his hormone-induced stupor clashed with his no- nonsense, intellectual persona. "At least you fill it out better now. I can't imagine how Onizuka thought he met a nineteen-year-old beauty in that getup," he remarked, quickly finding a rejoinder.
Kanzaki's eyes widened. "He told you?!"
He smiled. "I have my ways of finding out. Have a seat," Kikuchi replied as he stood up and pulled the chair out for Kanzaki.
Kikuchi had preordered the dinner course and signaled the waiter to start serving. The two were soon having a nice, quiet dinner.
As Kikuchi sipped his aperitif, he decided to ask Kanzaki why they were here tonight. He took her hand. "So what's the reason for this sudden rendezvous, Urumi? Couldn't get enough of me?" he teased.
"Very funny, Yoshito. I've had a sample already and I'm just about fed up," she teased back.
They laughed a bit for a while then Kanzaki suddenly turned serious.
"Can you pay the bill now, Yoshito? I'd like to talk elsewhere, if you don't mind," she asked.
It was evident in the way she played with her food that there was something on her mind.
"Elsewhere? I don't see why we have to be elsewhere but, okay. I'll just get the bill," he replied.
Kikuchi and Kanzaki then headed towards the exit after settling the bill. They waited as the valet retrieved Kikuchi's car then drove off.
"So where do you want to go, Urumi?" Kikuchi asked.
"Just drive for now, okay? I'll tell you where we'll go," she replied.
"She seems awfully quiet today. Odd, but then again, this IS Urumi Kanzaki," Kikuchi thought to himself.
Kikuchi did as she asked. After a few silent minutes of driving, she told him to turn into the next corner. They found themselves in front of a hotel, the kind where trysts often took place. Kikuchi frowned in confusion and was about to ask why Kanzaki wanted to go to such a place when she got her phone and dialled a number. After a short conversation, an attendant appeared and motioned for them to follow him and park their car into the garage. His head was full of questions as he followed Kanzaki into the elevator. Their gazes met as they stood beside each other. His was a cool, unfazed visage which almost effectively hid his emotions while Kanzaki just smiled lightly at him. The doors opened onto the topmost floor and they proceeded to a flight of stairs. He looked at Kanzaki again and the only thing she said was 'penthouse'.
They arrived at the room whereby the attendant gave Kanzaki the keys. He was about to explain a bit more about the amenities when Kanzaki just pressed a wad of yen into his hands and motioned for him to leave immediately. She then turned to face a very curious and nervous Kikuchi.
"Urumi, what's the meaning of this..." was all that Kikuchi could get out as she silenced him by suddenly kissing him. He didn't respond at first but his emotions and the sensation of having Kanzaki pressed against him overrode his initial hesitation. His arms soon went around her waist and shoulders.
Kanzaki broke the kiss after while then pressed her finger onto his lips as she saw that Kikuchi was about to form a question. She then pulled him towards the bed and Kikuchi found himself unable to resist.
"All I want to do is to be with you for now, Yoshito. You could say no, but please don't," she whispered.
Having no reply, Kikuchi obliged as he let Kanzaki remove his glasses.
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
Kikuchi woke up to the soft sound of rain pelting against the picture- window of their suite. He found his glasses and scanned the room. He saw Kanzaki wrapped in the bedsheets, a cigarette in her hands as she looked outside. He got up and went to her.
"I see you're awake," Kanzaki softly stated as she felt Kikuchi wrap his arms around her. She turned around to kiss him anew as she stuffed the cigarette into the ashtray, extinguishing it.
"I believe you were going to ask me a question, Yoshito," she chided as they broke the kiss. Kikuchi smiled gently and took her hand into his own.
"Why?" he asked simply, causing Kanzaki to laugh. She caressed his cheek.
"Why not? I mean, isn't it obvious, Yoshi-kun? I like you. I like you a lot. I guess I liked you so much that I started doing so even before I was aware of it. I believe I'm just letting out the last of my pent up emotions. Like you said, I only KNEW things back then," she replied.
Kikuchi stayed silent for a while after her reply.
"Is that all I am to you then, a release of frustrated emotions and desires?" Kikuchi asked quietly. He was about to say more when he saw that a single tear had formed in Kanzaki's eyes as she tried to hold back her feelings. He saw her raise her hand and braced himself for a slap but it didn't come. Instead, she lowered her arm and took his face into her hands.
"No, Yoshito. It's not like that. It can never be just like that," Kanzaki replied in between choked sobs as her tears began to fall.
Kikuchi regretted what his last statement caused and he held her even closer, soothing her.
"I'm sorry. I really am. It's just that..." Kikuchi began but stopped halfway.
"It's just what?" she asked.
Kikuchi grinned sheepishly at her then answered, "Well, you could say I've been dreaming about something like this happening for so long and to suddenly find myself actually here is.....incredible."
"Ah, I see. So this is just a fulfillment of your hormone-induced, teenage- fantasies," Kanzaki chided, somehow echoing the statement he had made previously about her emotions and desires.
Now it was his turn to explain. "Well, no. Yes. I mean, not exactly. Yeeeeessshhh!!!" Kikuchi replied, obviously flustered.
Kanzaki could hardly contain her laughter through her tears.
"Wow. It's not everyday that I see the great Kikuchi Yoshito at a loss for words," she teased.
Kikuchi smarted somewhat at her remark. "Hmm...time to put out the big guns," he thought.
"Well, what would YOU say in my place if the woman you had been dreaming about and loving from afar for so long suddenly took you to a hotel against your will?" he said, feigning embarrassment.
Expecting a witty retort, Kikuchi was surprised when her only answer was a pillow, whacked against his head. She then turned serious as the full implication of Kikuchi's words hit her.
"Do you really mean that?" she asked.
"Of course I do, Urumi."
She stared at him in the darkness and Kikuchi was sure she could see the slight smirk on his face. Kanzaki embraced him suddenly.
"I'm so glad you said that, although at the same time I wish you didn't because it makes things so much harder for me," Kanzaki said with more melancholy in her voice.
Kikuchi's heartbeat sped up a few notches. He did NOT like the sound of this. "What do you mean?"
"I have to leave Japan again," Kanzaki began.
"Okay..."
"For good."
He didn't say anything.
"My mother suffered a stroke recently and I've been busy attending meetings and discussing with the board of directors. So far, the damage to the business has been minimal but the same could not be said for Mom. She can't work again," she explained.
Kikuchi stared at her and had a good idea of where this conversation was leading.
"You have to take her place, don't you."
Kanzaki nodded in assent.
It was Kikuchi's turn to light up a cigarette.
"Talk about getting what you want and losing it in the same night...." he said in irony to no one in particular.
Kanzaki wanted to say something to Kikuchi just to alleviate the pain she knew he must be feeling but she couldn't think of anything to say.
"So when are you leaving?" he finally asked.
"In two days. I've already arranged everything and the rest will be handled by our staff. Yoshito, I'm so..."
Kikuchi shook his head as he snuffed out his cigarette. He retrieved his clothes.
"We'd best get dressed. It's late. I'll bring you home," he said simply.
Neither of them said a word during the trip back. Kikuchi dropped Kanzaki off at her hotel. She got down but turned back and looked at him.
Kikuchi was smiling at her. "Take care of yourself, Kanzaki."
Kanzaki had not expected that. She forced herself to smile, but she knew that if she attempted to say anything, she'd cry.
Kikuchi started to pull away then stopped. Opening the window, he looked out.
"Oh, and lose the snakes. Guns are legal in America and are more effective in keeping jerks away."
He drove off, leaving Kanzaki standing on the pavement.
Kanzaki was sitting in the lounge as she waited for her flight. The Kanzaki company jet was being refueled and in a few minutes, she would be off to Boston.
Lost in thought, she saw a group of students and their teachers about to board a small chartered-plane. The plane had familiar markings and she realized it looked exactly like the one that took their junior high batch to Okinawa years ago. No doubt the students were going on a field-trip not unlike the one they had. It made her smile as she remembered her classmates and their adventures there. Everything came back to her: Murai's indignation at almost anything, Yoshikawa's rescue, the stupid ghost-hunt, the three Gundam-otakus, and finally, the snake in Onizuka's pants. She laughed to herself as she recalled Onizuka serving as her mount while Kikuchi had been tied up near a tree, both at the receiving end of her wrath for colluding over a crazy treasure hunt.
Her memories were interrupted by a light hand on her shoulder. Kanzaki turned and saw Tomoko smiling at her, her pretty face hidden behind a pair of oversized shades, a bandana around her head. Behind her were Onizuka and his wife, Azusa.
"Good for them," Kanzaki thought as her eyes fell on her former teachers, now happily married.
The rest of the Onikumi were there as well. She saw that they all looked more mature now. The years had done them good.
"Yep, looks like they're all here except.....him," she thought, sighing.
"What time's the plane leaving?" Azusa asked her.
"In a few minutes. It's just refueling," Kanzaki answered.
"So we got here in time. Try to keep in touch, okay? We want to hear from you as soon as you're there," Murai said.
"And feel free to call us anytime. I won't mind because you'll be in Boston," Onizuka said, causing her to giggle a bit.
"I'll be there in two months for a show. I'll try to visit you," Tomoko added.
"I'd like that. Be sure to call me," Kanzaki said.
Fujiyoshi and Kusano gave her a large stuffed snake as a souvenir, making her laugh.
Despite herself and the presence of her friends, Kanzaki couldn't help but eye her surroundings and the various people that came into the airport. She was hoping against hope that Kikuchi would change his mind and come to see her off. But much to her dismay, he was nowhere to be found. Her friends noticed her expression and looked at each other knowingly.
"I called him but all I got was an answering-machine. I even left five messages," Tomoko told her gently.
"You didn't have to do that, Tomo-chan, but thanks," Kanzaki replied, smiling at her friend gratefully.
"Probably got caught up in one of his meetings. You know how he is," Murai said, trying to find some excuse that would somehow lessen Kanzaki's disappointment.
Kanzaki turned to Murai, seeing through his ploy. "You're a good friend, Kunio. Take care, okay?" she said, squeezing his hand lightly.
She turned to the rest. "I'll miss you all!" she declared, choking back on a sob.
They opened their arms and enveloped her in a big hug.
**************************************************************************** ***********************************
"We'll have a short stopover in Hawaii, ma'am," the flight-attendant explained as she handed Kanzaki her drink and a few magazines. After the final confirmations had been made, the plane had taken off and was now airborne.
Except for the pilots and two flight attendants, Kanzaki was alone on the plane. She had chosen to go ahead of the other directors as she didn't feel like discussing business with them, something she was sure she couldn't have avoided had they been around. It was turning out to be an uneventful flight as far as she was concerned but she was thankful for it. It gave her time to think, or rather, NOT to think. Moments like these were indeed a rare luxury for Kanzaki whose brain was almost always in overdrive.
She was about to settle into a nap when one of the attendants came to her.
"Ma'am, there's a phone call for you," she informed Kanzaki.
Kanzaki frowned slightly as she expected it to be one of the directors who were already in Boston.
"Can't they even wait for me to get there?" she muttered irritably. To the attendant, she said, "I'll take the call," grabbing the phone.
"What?!" she said rudely, not even bothering to ask who was at the other end.
"I see your mood hasn't changed. Still the same sweet girl I used to know," a familiar voice drawled over the line.
"What the....? Kikuchi?" she asked, suddenly sitting up.
"Oh, so we're back to surnames, then?""
"Where are you? You didn't even see me off at the airport!"
"I had an important meeting, but that's not the point. Kanzaki, the staff at the hotel we went to seemed awfully familiar with you and your habits. Do you go there often?"
Kanzaki was taken aback. Did he call her just to ask her a stupid question? And what was he implying, anyway? "Of course they know me! Kanzaki Enterprises owns that hotel!"
"No need to shout. I was just asking, and this is an expensive call to waste on shouting at me, don't you think?"
Kanzaki was confused at the way their conversion was going that she began to get irritated. "Why don't you just answer my question? Why didn't you see me off? You disappeared after that night and I didn't hear anything from you. I called and left messages but nothing! Even Tomoko called you! And now all you can tell me is that you had a stupid meeting?!"
"Right, genius."
"Don't patronize me, Kikuchi Yoshito! You owe me an explanation!"
"What I meant was, look to your RIGHT."
"If this is another one of your stupid games I'm gonna..." Kanzaki stopped in mid-sentence as she turned her head and saw another jet flying right beside hers.
"Don't bother looking for me in the passenger window. I'm flying the plane."
Kanzaki stared at the plane blankly. He was flying that? Ridiculous! She opened her mouth to launch another tirade when something occurred to her. Was it possible?
"You did all this for me? I mean, you took a plane just to follow me to Boston?" she asked.
"Idiot. Of course not. I have a business meeting in Chicago since I'm moving my company's headquarters there."
"Company headquarters? Whose company? What do you mean..." And then she saw the decals on the jet Kikuchi was flying and Kanzaki's jaw dropped.
K-SECURITY SYSTEMS...one of Japan's foremost IT-Security systems company...."K".......did "K" stand for...?
"Are you telling me you're flying your company's plane?" she exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Bingo, genius."
Kanzaki was speechless. Kikuchi was the head of his own company, and all this time she didn't know. And it wasn't just any company: it was one of Japan's most noted and fastest-rising IT-Companies. Even Kanzaki Enterprises was among their clients.
Kanzaki wanted to hit her head on the wall. How could she have overlooked that fact about one of their major business partners?
"I see you're in an old Lear Jet. A bit slow but it does get the job done," Kikuchi observed.
His remark brought her back. "Old? Why you....." she sputtered.
He chuckled. "Have a safe flight to Boston. I'll see you there in three days. Take care...Urumi,"
Her heart skipped a beat. He called me 'Urumi' again! "Wait!" she cried.
"See you around, slowpoke." Kikuchi's plane sped off, leaving Kanzaki's plane behind, and the line went dead.
Kanzaki stared at the phone in her hand. Kikuchi had just insulted her but Kanzaki couldn't care less. She was giddy with happiness, the same way she felt when he first asked her out. A smile slowly formed on her lips.
"Capt. Tyler, we'll have a change in flight schedule."
"Yes, ma'am. Where to?"
"Chicago. And step on it."
"You think he really did?" Azusa asked as she sat beside her husband on a bench in Inogashira Park.
"Yep. I've no doubt about it," Eikichi replied as he watched their son running around. "I told him NOT to be an idiot and go after her. His company's big enough and for goodness' sake, he can run it from Boston or Chicago seamlessly. He's not a genius for nothing, you know."
Azusa sighed. "Well I hope you're right, Eikichi. It's about time those two finally got together."
"You know I'm right. I'm their GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA, remember?"
Azusa laughed. "How could I ever forget?" she said.
She regarded her husband fondly. He was seldom wrong about his students. And for all his craziness and perversion, Eikichi's heart was always in the right place, especially when it came to them. His students knew that. So did she. And it was that heart that they all trusted.
As Azusa looked out over the park, she smiled to herself. Wherever they were now, she knew without a doubt that Kikuchi and Kanzaki were indeed going to be happy together.
