I
Shizuru let herself fall backwards into the bed with a sigh. She closed her eyes shut and breathed deeply with relief. What she really wanted now was finally going to happen: leave her hometown. Leave the life she had now, just leave everything behind and go to an unknown place, somewhere she could be herself, and not having to pretend what she was not. A smile appeared across her face. A small town will do… something in the country would be nice, somewhere she could see the sky being blue and not gray, somewhere with a hot weather, where sunlight heated her skin and she did not have to wear other clothes than jeans and a shirt; she had always lived in the large town of Kizawa, filled with cars, noise, people and smog. Shizuru had just graduated from college and wanted to try something different, be someone else, and have another life, not the one her family had created around her. She wanted a life that she created for herself, a true one and not the fake she lived everyday.
The girl stood up from bed and started to get herself into night clothes, while remembering how much it took her to convince her father that it was the best for her to leave and try living on her own.
"I really need to get a life of my own, and I don't want to get a job and money just because of my last name, you know, I am very proud of being a Fujino, but when I get older I want to know that what I have then is because of hard work and not because my father gave it to me. Plus I have been here all my life, I just want to know something else, I need it." She said seriously to her father earlier that day.
The old man laid back on his sofa and looked at the ceiling. God, she is so much like her mother. She argues the same way she did when younger. But maybe she is not as nuts as Rika is now.
"Dad, are you listening to me?" Shizuru said in an angry tone while crossing her arms.
"Trust me, I would have to listen to you even if I didn't want to." His father answered in a tired tone. He started rubbing his eyes in a very tired fashion. He felt exhausted, and Shizuru wasn't going to give him a break. She was decided to leave, though she wanted to get his permission before doing it. She loved her father, despite having to pretend she was just a rich girl who cared about social status and marrying a rich man, and so she wanted to leave in good terms.
"How are you going to maintain yourself? You are too young and…"
"And I have just graduated from Kizawa's College with the best grades of my class." Shizuru glared at his father. "I am a great architect here and anywhere I go I will still be."
Hanzo Fujino looked outside of the window of his large apartment in the heart of a huge city. He noticed the cars, the noise and rivers of people flowing in the streets, and compared Kizawa with the small town where he was raised. He remembered the temple of his family and the lake where he and his brothers and sisters went to swim on sundays. It was a very large broad between the two places, and he know he would have hated to be raised in such a city, but he had no choice when he got a job that could get him enough money to maintain his wife and, in that time, very little daughter. Eventually, he started climbing positions in the technology business and earned enough money to get a company of his own. He was a rich man now. All because he had worked very hard, and he was a bright man. Hanzo knew Shizuru wanted to get that feeling of pride when old, a feeling she wouldn't be able to get if she stayed with him.
"Shizuru, I know what you mean. I am sure you will get anything you want, anywhere you go. You can leave, and you can be sure you have my support."
His daughter stared at him and smiled. "I'm leaving next Saturday morning, so I still have a week to get everything ready."
"WHAT? You bought tickets and didn't even have permission from me?"
"I knew you would say yes at the end, so…" Shizuru said, still smiling.
"And can I get to know where my daughter is leaving to?" he asked.
"Alasville. It is a small town with hot weather. 5000 population. It is supposed to be some kind of old style city, on the country side." Shizuru said with sparks in her eyes. "And it's sunny and hot all the time." She completed.
"You are going to kill me one day, I swear, Shizuru." He said while serving tea for both of them.
"I'm sorry… but I can't stay to have tea, I really have to get going with some stuff before leaving." Shizuru said in an apologizing tone.
"My daughter doesn't have time for tea? Who are you? Where is Shizuru?" the old man said with a fake concerned tone. "I though you were addicted to tea." he ended.
"I… actually am stopping myself from throwing it inside my mouth and run, but I guess it is boiling… so… I have to go!" She ended and left running from her compulsive tea addiction.
"Really, this girl…" Hanzo said and started to massage his forehead.
Next days flowed like water for the Fujino family. Shizuru got to argue with her mother, who as expected, went nuts.
"ALASVILLE? WHERE THE HELL IN THE WORLD IS THAT PLACED? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE KIZAWA? THE FUJINO FAMILY HAVE BEEN EXPECTING FOR YOU TO WORK WITH US! IT IS THE FAMILY BUSINESS!" Rika Fujino screamed and screamed so much that Shizuru felt in the middle of a hurricane, but she was used to her mother rage attacks.
"Mom, I'm sorry but I think I'm old enough to take my own decisions." Shizuru said with a firm voice. "I hope you come to the train station on Saturday morning to say goodbye to me." She turned around and leaved her mother's office in the Fujino Corp. building.
"BITCH!" her mother screamed from her office door, making everyone on that plant flinch, except Shizuru, who knew she would do that. She called for the elevator and got inside it.
"DON'T YOU DARE TO LEAVE, SHIZURU FUJINO!" Rika said and pointed her finger out to Shizuru.
"I'm sorry!" she said and left in the elevator.
Saturday morning finally came, and Shizuru woke up really early in the morning. She had everything prepared and took her luggage to the living room. Her stuff had been sent to Alasville and was supposed to arrive with her. She still had a moment before having to get to the train station so she decided to take a cup of tea on the terrace. It was her favorite part of the luxurious penthousr her family owned. She could see the whole town from there and it was truly an impressing sight. It was around 6 am and the sun was coming up. Everything still had the freshness of night and she really enjoyed to just sit there and watch the sunrise. I will come back… eventually. At least for holidays. I just need to try something different.
The time passed and Shizuru was joined by her father. Hanzo entered the terrace and sat beside her. "I will take you to the train station, Shizuru." He said as sweet as he could, despite he felt incredibly depressed.
"I'm sorry about leaving… but I really feel I have to do so." She said to her father. The old man stared at the sunrise and sipped his tea.
"Your mother and I will miss you very much." Hanzo said. Shizuru felt guilty for leaving them, but then remembered the drama her mother put up on her office.
"My mother… she went crazy when I told her." Shizuru closed her eyes and sighed.
"Your mother is an unstable woman. You should know this by now. She can't express her feelings in other way than going nuts." Hanzo said this in a matter-of-fact tone. Shizuru just let a small laugh out.
"Do you think she will go to the train station?" she asked to her father.
"Maybe." He simply answered. She sighed again.
"Just let's get going. It's getting late." Shizuru said while looking at her watch.
Soon, they arrived to the train station. They got the luggage in and Shizuru and Hanzo waited for Rika to arrive. Shizuru looked around, and wasn't surprised when she didn't find her charming mother.
"She is not coming." She said to her father. His father was about to hug her to say goodbye, but his phone rang. He raised his finger and smiled. He looked at the phone and said "Don't be so sure, darling."
"Hello, sweetie. We are waiting for you at the train station. Your daughter wants to say goodbye to you before leaving. Please hurry. Yes, we are waiting for you still. No, dear, she won't leave before you come, but please, PLEASE, hurry up. Bye."
"But, what if she takes too long and the train leaves without me?" Shizuru said, concerned.
"Don't worry, she will be here." The old man said. "And we still have half hour!"
Despite the clock ticking behind her, Rika Fujino did arrive. She greeted both of them with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Ahh, Shizuru. You had to be as eccentric as your father. Leaving to an unknown village, full of dirt, just from a day to another? And why to travel by train? At least you should have gone by plane!" her mother said.
"Mother, there is no airport in Alasville. And I like trains. We barely ever got on one. I don't like airports. Trains are calm, spacious, and you can just walk around if you want to." She answered.
"Honestly. Why. Why would you leave the bright future ahead in Fujino Corporation, living in a huge city, to go to Melville or whatever it is called that damn place in the middle of nowhere, where you know anyone, or anyone knows you." Rika said while grabbing her daughter hands.
"I don't want to have a bright future because my last name is Fujino." She said.
"So, you don't want to be a Fujino anymore?" Rika snorted.
"Don't put words in my mouth, mother. I want to have a bright future because of my own hard work" she simply answered. Rika was trying to get her nuts, and she was not going to get it. "And anyway, I just wanted to say goodbye to you, and tell you both of you that I am prepared to live on my own, even if I'll miss you and dad." She said in a concluding tone.
"Of course, but before that, there is something else to be said, Shizuru." His father said.
"What is it?" Shizuru and Rika asked.
"Where are you living? You never asked for money and it worries your mother and I what you will do when you arrive. And where you sent all your stuff?" Hanzo asked, deeply concerned. Shizuru smiled to herself.
"Actually, I bought a small and very old flat. It will need a lot of reparations and remodeling, but am I not an architect?" she said in a delicately fierce tone, like defying someone to say different.
"And where did you get enough money to buy a flat?" Rika asked, very interested in the answer.
"I did the plans of a restaurant at college that a friend of mine asked for me. They weren't easy to do, and I always had to change stuff here and there for this friend. So, I earned enough money to get myself a home and still have some money to keep myself for around a month unti I get a job." She answered, and looked evidently proud of herself.
"I can't believe this, you hadn't finished college and you were already making money." Hanzo laughed and hugged her daughter.
"We are very proud of you Shizuru, but it is such a disappointment for the Fujino Corp. to lose such a brilliant mind." Rika said. God, she is always speaking as a business woman. Very proud, yeah, right, you weren't proud when you saw me kissing a girl! She went nuts that time. Again.
Shizuru hugged and kissed both of her parents, and was ready to get on the train.
Shizuru woke from a one hour nap. She was really tired and couldn't help but to fall asleep during the journey to Alasville. The young woman turned her head to appreciate a clear sky, and stared at it for a moment. She couldn't remember when was the last time she saw such a beautiful sight, with a wide, green field, and large trees. She hoped Alasville was as beautiful as that sight, and went back to sleep.
The train finally arrived to the old and dusty station. Shizuru carried down her suitcase and was welcomed with the brightness of the sun and dry heat over her skin. She looked around to find a cab to take her to the flat but only found an old truck, that seemed to have been red once, and, for her surprise, a motorbike she believed to be a Ducati. What the hell, a Ducati in this small village?, Shizuru thought for herself, while walking towards it. I guess the owner should be somewhere near this, maybe I can ask where I can get a cab, as nobody else seems to be around.
As she got right in front of the old fashioned Ducati, she turned around and crashed into someone, dropped her luggage and hit the ground.
"Sorry" a low, raucous voice whispered and a hand was extended in front of her. She looked up and saw a green eyed girl, with dark, straight hair, wearing a cowboy style hat, a very worn out pair of jeans, and a red & black plaid shirt. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbow, letting Shizuru see her toasted skin. Hmmm, a sexy tomboy, lucky of me!
Shizuru grabbed the firm hand and was easily raised up.
"Thanks" she said and smiled at the green eyed girl, who just shrugged her shoulders.
"You aren't from around, right?" the cowgirl said in a rough tone, looking at Shizuru's suitcase.
"Ara, so observer. Yes, I've just arrived from Kizawa city. Do you know where I can get a cab?"
The girl just laughed about the innocent question of the newly arrived girl.
"You really have never been in Alas before, huh? How many cars do you see from here?"
"Not many, actually." Shizuru said and frowned.
"Where are you heading to?"
She read the direction on her cell phone. She didn't have any signal, by the way.
"Is it the old falling flat?" asked the green eyed girl, frowning.
"yes, exactly! how do you know it?" answered Shizuru, quite surprised to see the tomboy actually knew where she was exactly going.
"It's not exactly a big city, miss." said and smirked. "I can give you a ride there, if you wish." the girl offered.
Shizuru, as any city person, doubted for a moment.
"IS that really okay for you? Or are you just being... friendly?" said Shizuru while giving a flirty look to the black haired girl, whom looked away and started coughing.
"It's ok. I feel guilty for pushing you, it's the least I could do."
"ok then, but.." Shizuru raised her small suitcase.What will I do with my suitcase?.
"Ahh, dont worry about that. I can get it back to your place later, if it's okay for you. There is a friend here that can watch over it meanwhile."
Shizuru was taken by surprise. She is very kind, really...
"Really, is that fine for you? Am I not taking advantage of you?" she asked in a worried tone.
"It's fine, for me. You are not afraid of riding on a bike, are you?" the villager asked with a smirk on her face. She was teasing Shizuru.
Shizuru smiled and got a strange feeling of joy. Hell yeah! I'm riding on a Ducati with a hot cowgirl.
"Ara, are you calling me a coward? I will be fine, all I have to do is hold on tight to you, isn't it?" Shizuru teased back, making the girl blush.
"Uhmm, Ok. I'm Kuga Natsuki, by the way."
"I'm Fujino Shizuru. Very glad to meet you, Natsuki."