Takafumi shot up out of her bed panting and shaking as tears unknowingly made their way down her cheeks as she tried to get her bearings back. She looked over to the window and saw the sunlight creeping through the curtains of her room. She turned to look at the calendar and sighed "That day already huh?" Takafumi asked to no one in particular, as she slid out of bed to get ready for the day. Once she was in the shower however, she collapsed into a ball as the water poured over her. 'Never again, I won't be afraid ever again. I'll rely on no one except myself. That way no one would get hurt'
Grief
Takafumi went about her day as normal, doing her rounds before looking up the sales data 'Ritsu's story needs a reprint good for her' Takafumi mentally congratulated her friend as she immersed herself in her work. It was a few hours before a familiar voice called breaking through the haze
"Yokozawa~" Royal blue met with chocolate.
"Kirishima? What are you doing here?" Zen smirked and held up a small box.
"Happy birthday" Zen grabbed a nearby empty chair and straddled it resting his chin in his hand and he held the small box out to her.
"Huh?"
"Geez don't tell me that you didn't realise the date today? Especially when you remembered mine two days ago" Zen grouched. Takafumi looked dazedly at the date on her computer. 'Huh look at that, it's still That date' "Just open it" Zen huffed in amusement. Takafumi took the small velvet box from his hands. She pulled of the silk white ribbon that had been tied in a bow over the box and opened it and hissed as she closed it again.
"Kirishima! That must've cost a fortune!" she hissed at him.
"It's fine" Zen said with a smile as Takafumi glared at him "Well do you like it?" Takafumi paused and reopened the box. In it sat a necklace that had a sapphire gem hanging of it shaped into an oval that was surrounded by diamonds and the chain of the necklace was made of several hundred tiny diamonds that were connected by the clasp
"It's beautiful, but I have nowhere to wear it"
"You will, tonight"
"What?" Takafumi cried.
"Hiyori will be coming by after school with the rest of your present you got to change into it before we go"
"I'm working late tonight! You can't just make plans on your own" The saleswoman snapped.
"Kirishima-san" Henmi said in surprise as he entered sales "What brings you up here?"
"Just dropping off Yokozawa's birthday present"
"Eh!? Yokozawa-san is it your birthday?"
"Does anyone know it's your birthday?" Zen asked in disbelief.
"My parents, Ritsu and I think Takano" she replied dumbly. Takafumi swore she saw her lover's eye twitch.
"Yokozawa!" another voice called as they entered. "Happy birthday!" the saleswoman peeked around to see who it was. Only to see Ritsu bounce into the sales department. "Here I have a gift for you from Masamune and I"
"Ritsu?"
"Before you ask I'm on break so I can be here" the woman pouted. Takafumi smiled at the younger woman "Hey, Kirishima" Ritsu waved. "Here this is from me and Masamune."
"Ah I feel bad for not knowing, how come you never told us?"
"You didn't ask?" Takafumi said confused as she accepted the gift. After peaking in the small bag, she was given she smiled gratefully as she spotted the chocolates
"I wasn't quite sure what you liked and Masamune was too busy to help"
"Thank you Ritsu"
"I should be getting back" Ritsu smiled as she left.
Zen stood as well pressing a kiss to Takafumi's hair "So should I be ready by 5pm"
"I told you I can't I have work to do-"
"We can handle it, have fun tonight"
"See no problem now" Zen turned and left meanwhile Takafumi sent Henmi a death glare before leaving to do her rounds
Grief
Takafumi sighed as she walked into the building once more, more than a little tired. Takafumi glanced at her watch and noticed it was almost 5 o'clock. She sighed again then one of the receptionist's voice caught her attention. "Sorry but I think she's still out on her rounds, miss" Takafumi looked up to see Hiyori standing that the desk with a medium sized box in her hands.
"Hiyo"
"Onee-chan!" Takafumi smiled softly down at the child
"Are you looking for Zen?"
Hiyori shook her head "No I'm here to deliver your present before I go to my grand-parent's house"
"Ah Zen did mention something like that" Takafumi muttered remembering earlier that day. Hiyori but the box in Takafumi's hands and started pushing her towards one of the bathrooms on the bottom floor
"Hurry, hurry, I wanna see it on before dad does" Hiyori pouted Takafumi gave in with a huff and entered one of the stalls to change. After she did she stepped out and Hiyori gasped. She wore a sapphire blue strapless dress that had a few diamonds just under her bust, it had an A frame hem that went to just below her knees at the from and down to her ankles at the back revealing the matching blue stiletto heels that had her big toe peeping out "Wow, Onee-chan, you look so pretty!" Hiyori gushed "Wait here I wanna see if papa is ready yet"
Takafumi packed away her stuff into the box as sighed irritably. Once Hiyori came back Hiyori took her stuff and shooed her outside. Takafumi rolled her eyes but did as she was told and was met with a nicely dressed Kirishima Zen who let out an appreciative whistle. "You look nice" Takafumi just huffed at him and let him lead her out the door into his car
"I don't see why we couldn't just go home first" Takafumi grumped
"Because then I'd never get you to go anywhere" Zen chuckled. Once they were in the car zen drove off to their destination.