~Yuki-chan's Corner~

Yey! Finally my very first published fanfic after 13 years of writing for my own satisfaction and eyes only. Yeah 13 years. It took me LONG 13 years and a lot of finished and unfinished stories before I finally got the guts to publish my work online at least.

Thanks to Lolidragon97 for the advices she gave me and the encouragement as well.

WARNING: Major OOC.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything except my own ideas.^_^

Chapter One

TORA

I have never been this anxious and impatient like I am now before. I am inside my own private plane bound for Tokyo and should be enjoying the luxury and comfort of it but right now all I want is to set my feet back home and see that woman who haunted me in my dreams for days. I have been out of the country for a few days for a business trip.

I sighed and saw in the window my bored reflection.

"Your father is really glad that your trip had turned out positive results." Maki, my vice president and personal assistant, said."Yeah." I answered nonchalantly.

"It seems like you really can't wait to go home."

"It's been days. I can't wait."

Maki just replied with a smile.

After an hour or so we finally arrived at Tokyo Airport. After six hours in that torture flight and I may consider the longest flight I ever had (this is despite having travelled longer before) I finally set my feet back home. It was already 6:00 p.m. according to the airport clock. I still can make it, I thought. I still got an hour. "Maki I am going to drop somewhere before I go home."

"Yes, kaichou." Maki answered quietly.

"I am going now. See you tomorrow." The door closed. "Eh?" the woman froze in her position.

"Finally." The woman I was talking about whose memories haunted me for days that I was away or perhaps for the past three years of my life, Ayuzawa Misaki. Her long black hair hanging freely and her shocked amber eyes on me. "How long are you planning to stand there and stare like I am some sort of ghost?" I said irritably.

"Tora!" She threw herself into me. "When did you arrive? I thought you'll arrive tonight."

"My flight landed about an hour ago." It feels so good to feel her in my arms again. To smell her scent again. Her warmth, her smile. It haunted me for days.

"How long have you been waiting?" moving away from me.

"About half an hour." I answered.

Half an hour? No wonder he looks pissed. "Why didn't you come inside?"

"I don't want to." I simply answered. The truth is I want to surprise her but I did not expect that I'll be waiting this long. "Let's go."

Inside the car Misaki and I kept on exchanging stories about what had happened during the days that passed. Though she did most of the story telling. She was obviously excited to tell her stories and I hope she was also glad to see me just as I am glad to see her. Although we kept a constant communication in any possible means during those parted days it was still different if we're face to face in the flesh. The exchange of stories extended over dinner. We exchanged stories about what happened to us during the past few days. How her days at work went and how my business meetings went. What she had done after work and how she used her free time and how did I used mine. She told me about her boss and her co-workers. The story seemed endless.

I looked over the clock and was shocked to see that it was already two in the morning. That's how long we've been talking and yet the stories to share are not yet through. "It's already two in the morning. It's way past your bedtime." standing up.

"Huh?" glancing at the clock shocked like me to see the time. "We've been talking for that long?" chuckling.

"Yeah. So you have to get some rest now. We still have a lot of time tomorrow. Oh no. Later." smiling.

I walked her to her door which is adjacent to mine. "You get enough rest."

"Okay. You too." The next thing she did caught me by surprise. She tiptoed and kissed me in the cheek. "I missed you." she whispered. "I'm glad you're back now."

"I feel the same." I answered. "Now go. Good night."

"Good night."

I waited until she closed her door and until she was gone. Lingering at what happened a few minutes ago. I touched my cheek where she kissed it. Feeling still where her lips and my skin touched.

MISAKI

I was awakened by the stillness of the room. I blinked my eyes adjusting to its surroundings. I saw light. It's already morning I recognized when my clouded mind cleared off. I reached for my clock and was shocked to see the hour. 2:00 pm! I threw away my blanket and abruptly stood up when wooziness attacked my head. Blood rushed in my head.

I grabbed my phone and dialed the office's number. I'm glad that my boss answered the phone. "I am sorry, General Manager I can't go to work today. I overslept."

"Oh that's alright. President Igarashi already called me this morning and he told me that you can't make it to work today." I heard her chuckle in the other line. I can already imagine her with moe surrounding her. "I think the president wants to spend time with you today."

I blushed. "I promise I will make it up to you."

"That's alright Misaki. We can manage. Just enjoy your day." then she hang up.

I turned off my phone and went out of my room. Along the hall I saw one of the maids. She lowered into a bow. "Did you see Tora?"

"He is in the indoor pool, my lady."

"Thank you." I made my way to the huge and what seemed like an endless hallway of the Igarashi Mansion. It had been two years since I moved in with Tora in his house in his own bid despite my firm decline. Tora made his way to make my decision changed for me. The undisputable stubbornness of the rich. He talked to my mother and my sister and pursued her to agree with him. Reasoning out that the apartment I am staying back then holds too much painful memories of my past and it won't help me forget. Adding ― and in my own opinion what he really wanted to point out ― that his house was too big for him alone and his maids and butler. He won't mind taking in two more.

Convinced, my mother backed Tora up and tried to convince me. She said that Tora has a point. I should have a new environment if I want to forget what had happened to me in the past and start anew. It won't be doing me any good if I cling on to the past. It will only imprison me to it and give me false hope of the future. My sister was not helping me either. He sided with Mom and Tora as well. I was outnumbered. It was a three versus one decision.

The indoor pool was located in the ground floor. This was apart from the outdoor pool the mansion has. Basically the indoor pool was for the purpose of allowing anyone to swim anytime of the day without getting the skin burnt and getting skin cancer because of the UV rays and in case that it is raining outside. Complete with its modern facilities and Jacuzzi, the indoor pool can be called one of the finest pools there is in Japan at least.

I've been around for quite a while now but I still can't get used to this grandeur — the life of the rich and famous. When I told this to Tora he laughed his heart out. "That's the problem with commoners like you. You're having problems coping up with us. But you'll soon get used to this." wearing his famous smug grin.

The Igarashi family owns a chain of hotels and restaurants and shopping malls around the world and they are one of the most famous and wealthiest families in Japan. And being the only son, the sole heir of the family, Tora, will inherit everything.

I found Tora in the pool doing his strokes back and forth. Muscles flexing in every stroke. His fan girls will definitely gape and will do anything just to see him like this. And I do not know if I should consider myself lucky or not.

He noticed my presence. "Hey." He swam towards me. "Good afternoon sleepyhead. How's your sleep?"

I turned beet red and he laughed in his usual mocking laugh that filled the whole room. "That's alright. You stayed up late last night. I did not ask the maid to wake you up. And don't worry about being absent today. I already called the shop and told them that you cannot make it today. Satsuki said it was alright. Even added up that we enjoy our day together." toothily smiling.

I blushed.

"Aren't you going to join me here? The water is cold."

I shook my head. "I'll just watch over here. What time did you wake up? Did you get enough sleep?" After all these years of knowing and staying with him under one roof taught me that Tora is one of the most heavy sleepers and definitely not a morning person I've known.

"Around past nine. Jet lag."

"I see. Did you eat your breakfast and lunch?"

"Had breakfast but not lunch."

"Why? I told you not to skip your meals." Tora usually skips his meals particularly if he is so occupied with work.

"I am waiting for you to wake up."

"Then you should have wakened me up."

"You are sleeping heavily. I am not that rude to wake some drooling lady in her sleep."

"I am not drooling!"

"Says who?"

"I!"

"How do you know? You're sleeping like a hog."

"I just know. And I am not a hog!"

We heard Tora's phone rang. "I'll get it." I grabbed his phone over the table and hand it down to him. He was already out of the water and starting to dry himself up.

"Yes." He walked a distance to me.

While he talks to whoever was calling him I sat on the pool side and soaked my feet in the water. He was busy discussing business matters according to what I had heard with his caller. Sometimes his voice was increasing in pitch like he is scolding the person calling.

I watched my reflection in the water. How it all started between us and Tora? I could still recall vividly how. It had been three years when Tora and I crossed paths and I may say in a very shameful manner.

I was out in the park after I came from the hospital after my check-up to take my usual night stroll. It already became a nightly routine since he left and to clear my head off. To find my inner peace. To allow me to think.

I was in that state when I saw this person whom I thought was that good-for-nothing guy passed by. I trailed him off. Mix emotions swirling inside me. Anger, hate. Love. I have a lot to tell him. I have a lot to ask him.

When he stopped I lunged at him and hit him hard in the head not knowing that later on I will regret it.

"You idiot! How could you do that! How could you just leave me behind without a word?" tears swelling in my eyes. "Do you have any idea what I have gone through these past months that you've been gone? —" All the words I am going to say remained in my throat when the guy whom I thought for another guy turned. My eyes widened in shock.

The guy's faint yellow orb was blazing with fury as it stares stonily at me. Based on how he looked it looked like he wanted to wring my neck that very moment. He got his one hand on his head where I hit it hard.

"What the heck did you just do?" he asked between gritting teeth and piercing eyes.

I was speechless.

"Who the hell do you think you are to do that to me?! Do you know who —" he stopped. Surprise and curiosity wrote all over his face. Maybe because he saw tears swelling in my eyes despite my effort of holding them back.

"I-I am sorry. I did not mean to. I thought you are someone I know. I am terribly sorry." With a last bow I left hurriedly and did not dare look back.

I was not expecting Tora and I will be meeting again after that embarrassing night. But I learned that there was really nothing impossible for the rich. We met again but this time in a different scenario. An invitation was sent to my house from someone who did not dare to tell. I declined but the assistant, who later I learned was Maki said I cannot. And so I came only to be surprised to know that it was from him. Tora.

And that started everything to us.

*** To be Continued ***

So that's it for the first chapter. Hope you like it.

And BTW, HAPPY HALLOWEEN guys! We do not go to cemetery so I decided to finally upload this one.

So let's get to the story. The original plan was a TakuxMisa story but one day I realized I will set aside the story and I'll make a ToraxMisa story. Yeah I started liking Tora (but I like Takumi of course. Who wouldn't? The guy is well, let me say full of pheromones). I just started to like Tora one day while reading the manga. Perhaps I like smug but soft-hearted guys. I don't know. Is Tora like that? Hahahaha...

Please do not kill me because I paired Misa with Tora (pleading with knees on the ground). And please take it easy on me okay? I am a newbie in this. :) If there are errors please feel free to tell me so.

I'd like to hear from you guys! Your reviews is very much accepted and appreciated. Ja!

~Yuki-chan!~