A Working Honeymoon
Sequel to A Roman Holiday. In admiration of Dorothy L. Sayers, the author of the Lord Peter Wimsey stories.
Disclaimer: The world of Nodame and Chiaki was created by Tomoko Ninomiya. I'm just having a little play in her sandbox.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to situations, persons dead or alive is purely coincidental.
Prologue
I
Shielded by the pitch black darkness of the room, an angry soul lurked beneath the shadows. An otherwise gentle soul torn apart by a profound disappointment by fate's cruel twists. What is left in its wake is nothing but a shattered dream… a lifelong dream callously trampled on by the high and mighty. Those who, in his eyes, had put their own interests ahead of the interests of the greater good. He had always been so certain that he was one that represented the greater good... the one to help steer the guild into the twenty-first century. Now, he was merely a soul lost at sea… a soul whose raison d'etre had been snatched so painfully from his grasp. With clenched fists, he vented his indignation against the nearest concrete wall.
Twenty years in the guild and all for what? All these years of kowtowing to the factions and humiliating myself in front of lesser men… Those imbeciles… after all the hard work that I've put into the guild… this is how they reward me… handing my position over to an inexperienced new comer. How dare they chose a new comer over me. The effrontery of those fools. They know how much this meant to me. It was mine. The guild is my life!
His wrath was not so easily assuaged as more furniture fell victim to his fury. Chairs, tables, cushions tumbled to the ground in a disorderly fashion. Objects within reach were hurtled across the room one after another until there was nothing left to hurl. It would be some time later before he would collapse onto the leather sofa breathless and exhausted by his exertions. Burying his head between his legs, the tears now fell… allowing himself a moment to grieve. But only a moment. Shaking his fists in the darkness, a resolution was formed.
They will pay… they will all pay for this… All of them. One by one. I know their secrets and I will be their Till.
II
A newly married couple checked into the prestigious Ambassador Hotel, which was situated in in the middle of downtown Vienna. As part of a large contingent of conference guests that were steadily trickling into the hotel, they found themselves in front of a queue of weary and famished individuals all anxiously waiting their turn. At first glance they seemed a mismatched couple. Clad in a dark overcoat and black trousers, the man was tall, handsome and confident. He had the poise of someone who though young… not quite thirty… had already seen much success in his career. The woman, who was clinging on to his arm, was gazing at her surroundings with all the curiosity and wonder of an awestruck child.
"Mukya… this is a fantastic place, sen.., I mean, husband…" She was prattling on excitedly. "I can't believe we're staying here. It looks more like a place for kings and celebrities."
"It is… many famous politicians and artistes have spent time here."
"Really? Amazing. Gyabo! And now Nodame is going to leave her mark here." Her matter-of-fact comment elicited an affectionate glance from her husband.
Waiting patiently for the receptionist to organize their room and baggage, the two day old husband watched the delighted stares that his companion gave to every object in the enormous lobby area. He knew from all her gleeful smiles and excited cries that she was reveling in the moment.
It was her smile that distinguished her… a mixture of mischief and other worldliness… the effect of which animated her otherwise ordinary features. It was one of the many things he loved about her and in more unguarded moments, he would find himself gazing at her lips not just for the smile that they formed but for the rumblings of desire that quietly stirred inside of him.
Despite the promise of untold luxury at their fingertips, the young husband was far from happy. "It's no place to be spending a honeymoon though."
"It's okay, husband… I don't mind…" She then lowered the tone of her voice. "At least we'll get to enjoy a very big bed, right?" There was a glint of anticipation in her eyes.
"Hentai…" He reprimanded but none too sternly. Instead, he reached over and gently caressed her reddish, light brown hair. "Is that all you think about?"
"Of course not… but since you're going to be stuck all day in seminars, workshops and meetings for the next few days… you owe me… big. I have exclusive night time rights, don't forget that, Chiaki."
"How can I? With you harping on at me… day and night." He retorted rolling his eyes.
She pursed her lips looking disgruntled. "You make it sound like such a chore…"
His expression softened. "A chore? Not that… never that." There was a wistful look in his eyes.
"Anata… are you alright? You seem so far away."
"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm fine. It's just that… I didn't want us to be spending our honeymoon with two or three hundred people at a conference, snatching a moment here and there for ourselves."
"Haven't we already talked about this? You have to be here. You're giving an important address. Besides that, it is a great honour to be the new secretary of the Conductors Guild." She snuggled up closer to him. "The youngest one ever in its 150 year history. I'm so proud of you."
Although he averted his eyes, his voice betrayed some emotion. "I think my being appointed secretary of the Guild has more to do with Maestro Stresemann and Vieira sensei doing some political wrangling than any ability on my part."
"Nonsense… everyone knew that you were the best man for the job."
"I don't know about that… Anyway…" He changed the subject abruptly. "I won't be able to spend as much time with you as I like. I don't want you to be bored."
She could see how much this was bothering him and tried to reassure him. "Not a chance. There's so much of Vienna I haven't yet seen. The last time I was here, I was inside a practice room half the time. This time, I'm going to do some real sightseeing. Furthermore, I'll be giving 3 recitals during my time here. I will have no time to be bored."
It is just like her to take a positive spin on everything. The young husband thought to himself. "I'll make it up to you, Nodame." He promised.
"Don't worry… Chiaki Shinichi, I'll make sure that you do." was her ominous response.
III
It had been a long journey back and she was suffering the after effects of jetlag. Returning from an enormously successful tour in Australia, the popular US-born Chinese violinist, Sophie Wong was content to be home with her fiancé in Vienna. Although, in her mid forties, she had maintained her looks and figure and appeared more like a woman in her thirties. It would be her last major international tour as she made preparations for her impending marriage to a fellow musician. The couple were relaxing with a bottle of red in front of a log fire after a meal of steak mignon, discussing the latest from the classical music world. The conversation soon turned to a young Japanese pianist that Sophie had heard perform in France several months earlier. A Ms Megumi Noda.
Her fiancé's face registered a blank. "Megumi Noda… Megumi Noda… Doesn't ring any bells with me. Who is she?"
"She was in the news lately… just got married to a conductor, I think. At least that's what Miriam told me. I'm not up on the latest goss. Got involved in some kidnapping case in Rome. Haven't you heard of her, Masa?"
"No, I haven't."
"The silver medalist from this year's Tilburn competition."
"Silver medalist, eh? Is she any good?"
"What do you mean 'is she any good'? She is the silver medalist. Although some people think she should have won it."
"What did you think?"
"I think she's a name to watch."
"I don't think I've seen you that excited about an up and coming pianist for a while."
"I'm surprised you haven't heard of her… obviously she's Japanese."
"I haven't been back there in decades."
"Don't you have a son there?"
"He's been living in Europe for almost nine years now but I haven't see him since his mother and I divorced."
"Why not?"
"I pretended that he didn't exist and now he pretends that I don't."
"Don't you care?"
"It's easier to tell myself that I don't. Helps me sleep better at night."
"Masa… how can you?"
He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry your beautiful little head about it. It's water under the bridge." Outwardly he gave the appearance that he was unaffected by it, perhaps in an attempt to convince her and possibly himself that none of that mattered. "So, Sophie, you were saying that this Megumi Noda is giving a recital at the Sala Terrena.(1)"
"Yeah, two at the Sala Terrena and one at the Ambassador Hotel. Playing Mozart and Ravel pieces mainly. Interested? Miriam got me two tickets."
"I could be…"
IV
Nicholas Stanton, late of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, had been enjoying a few daiquiris at the hotel bar. Here's to drink, music and to women. Long may they please. Glancing at his watch, he could see that it was way past his bed time. A whole day of meetings to look forward to. How exciting. He thought irascibly about how his time could be better spent. As downed his last glass, his cell phone vibrated. Immediately he thought the worse. Why is someone calling me this late? Did something happen at home? A quick glance at the screen informed him instantly that it wasn't a call from home.
Damn that woman… I told her not to ring me.
"Nick… when are you coming back? I'm lonely."
"Joy… I told you not to ring me, unless in an emergency."
"What's wrong? Your wife's not there, is she?"
"It's a public place… and nobody knows about us. I'd like to keep it that way."
"Well, they should know about us." The voice on the other end was turning petulant. Furthermore, her speech was slurred.
"Joy… are you drunk?"
"Well… I did have five glasses of margaritas… But drunk, no…"
"Go to bed, Joy… sleep it off." He snapped into the phone.
"Such a spoilsport, Nick. Don't you miss me?" She pleaded. "It's so lonely here tonight."
Changing tact, he spoke in a gentler tone of voice. "Of course I miss you but I'm about to go to bed. You should do the same."
"Alright… alright… ring me won't you?"
"As soon as I have some time."
"You never have time for me except when you want…"
"Good bye, Joy…" He felt it necessary to cut short the call. The complaints were protracted and never ending. But she knew what she was in for… he made it clear from the start. Of course, she wasn't his first. That woman… I should never have given her this number but then it was the preferable alternative to her ringing the house.
Stanton strolled briskly to his room in fear of another unwanted call being overheard. Sigh… women… can't live with them… can't live without them.
Opening the door to his hotel room, he noticed a piece of paper that had been slipped under his door. His name was printed on the front in block letters in a dark, eye catching font. Unfolding the note, he observed from the layout that it seemed to be some kind of poem.
Someone's been a naughty boy
He's got a nice new toy
She's slim and blonde and rather coy
And showers him with JOY.
What the devil? Stanton was stunned. Looking to the left and the right of the corridor, he saw no one. No one knows… not even Franz...
Stanton staggered back inside the room reeling from the shock and collapsed onto his bed. He looked over the words at the ordinary looking sheet of paper one more time. But how…
Comments, reviews and expressions of interest are always appreciated.