Do We Have A Future Together
ParisNightLights
Summary:
After she mysteriously disappeared on her wedding day 5 years ago and thus marking the end of their relationship, no one has heard from her since then. Years after, Hino Kahoko met up with Yunoki Azuma again. Now though, is it pure coincidence that brought the former lovers together or is heaven playing a joke with them? Kahoko x Azuma
A/N:
I was slightly surprised with the number of reviews I've received. So here's to you, readers! Chapter 2! Hopefully, the reviews will keep rolling in;) Just finished this chapter after I've pretty much written and deleted some paragraphs, and then rewritten again. A total of around seven pages! So this late completion was purely due to my indecisiveness and loads of brain storming. I'm not sure if you like this product or not, so leave me a review. Don't mind me if this chapter is too boring for you. This chapter focuses mostly on the event leading up to their encounters and some flash backs about what happened before in the past five years. There's a few of my own characters. I've tried to elaborate about them so you will understand better. Don't worry if you don't get it, you could clarify it with me or wait for further chapters. They will appear more in later chapter. I promised. And if you could leave me a review after this, it would be greatly appreciated. On a side note, I do accept anonymous reviews; just don't be too harsh on me. I'm only a beginner. Without further ado, enjoy!
CHAPTER II: The Coincidence
Flipping through the folder in his hand, he glanced up from the numbers to look at the others. The girls-Amou and Shoko were mall-shopping in the many shops available in the gigantic shopping mall. And Kazuki was pretty much following his wife-Amou around the shops. Ryotaro and Shimizu went to Starbucks together, leaving Len to look around the music instruments shop himself. Therefore, Azuma was left all alone at outside one of the clothing store, waiting for Kazuki and the two other girls. To be more specific, waiting for Shoko.
Right after his wedding failed, his grandmother has paired him up with Shoko Fuyuumi. A daughter of the owners of the rich corporation. He did not really know Shoko or understand her at all. All he knew was that she was one of Kahoko's good friends. In fact, after she has learnt of it, she has apologized about how her parents has agreed to their future marriage right after Kahoko has gone missing. He has felt bad for the girl. She had to tolerate his indifference towards her. Yet she still stayed hopeful of their relationship, telling him that she believed he would accept her one day. The fact was he would never be able to accept her even if Kahoko was no longer occupying his mind. Recently, he has noticed her trying to inch closer to him. It was disturbing, yet his grandmother would have reprimanded him for letting the girl to take the initiative first...And he knew he could not put off the wedding any longer if he did not want his grandmother to do something drastic. Not that he knew what she would do. But still his grandmother would never change in a millennium.
"Azuma! Is this nice?" A girl with long brown hair looked at him expectantly. Shoko. She has been this cheerful ever since...he did not exactly remember when. But he thought that she just want to cheer him up. Or try to imitate Kahoko. And he did not like the idea of her doing so. It just made him think of her and...that was it.
He nodded politely in the Yunoki way, "Yes, it fits you." He could have not look and still say the same thing. In his mind, whatever she wore or how ever she dressed, she would still look the same to him. No difference at all. Just maybe the colours, he thought. He smiled at the girl encouragingly, urging her to go and try the clothes out. He needed some peace here, not to have a bright bubble right in front of him. And shopping was never one of his things in the first place.
"Mhm," she nodded her head and bounced off in the direction of the dressing room. He watched her close the pink door and returned his attention to his folder. If she is trying so hard to fit in with him, or to try to fill the emptiness and hollowness in his heart, he should just accept it and move on with his left. Isn't that right? He might not be able to return his feelings, but he could try. Couldn't he? Forget Kahoko, think Shoko. It would not be that difficult as compared to sorting through complicated numbers, he figured.
The minute that she exited from the dressing room, he closed the folder and brought it to the side. He smiled at her gently and moved over to where she was. Staring at the empty space above the head of the petite girl, he stated coolly, "Let's get married."
Shoko stared at him in surprise. She has tried so hard over the years to get him to accept her, and now he was finally ready to do so. But why did it still feel not right? Sure, he was not doing it the romantic way. At least, he was willing to give her a chance to be his wife. She might not mean as much as Kahoko to him. But she would change that fact. She would be capable of doing so and she would have to do it. After all, she has secretly liked him since she entered Seiko Academy. Two years younger than him. Yet she would never mind the two years age difference. That was love, wasn't it? "Sure," she mumbled her reply, trying to look innocent and shy.
Azuma nodded his head as he watched her, before walking away again. Somehow he felt much guiltier now. Perhaps he knew that he would have to betray his very own feelings just to be with her. And it was not what he want either. Whichever way he viewed this matter, it would only point to the same result. Get married or get threatened. The latter was the unknown. Who knew what would happen to him if he refused.
He bent over the railings outside the boutique and looked down. It is really time to forget about her, huh? Forget about her long red curly hair, forget about her amber eyes, forget about her blushing red cheeks, forget about her soft pink lips, forget about how he felt when he held her, forget about how he felt when he kissed her, forget about how she responded when he teased her endlessly, forget about how she tell him that she... love him. In plain words, forget about her existence completely. Chuckling darkly to himself, he muttered under his breath softly, "How cruel could you be, Kahoko?"
"Ah choo!" She sneezed loudly, as her nose turned redder as the time passed by. She has just declared herself of catching the flu bug a moment ago, when she realised she has finished a box of Kleenex tissue. How proud she was about her ability to use a whole stack of tissue within an hour. She could probably set a Guinness Record. Except she would not really want to repeat the feat.
Blowing whatever that was blocking her airway into yet another piece of tissue, she settled down onto the red beanbag in the room. She was exhausted. Exhausted by everything that was going on in her life. Her life now was not much different from the one five years ago. It was still as hectic. But in a different kind of way. Sometimes, she just wish she still has her violin with her. Just playing it would clear her mind up. But what would be the use of thinking about it when she could no longer play that violin? It was not as if she did not play to play it, it was no longer there. She herself did not know where it has ended up right now. Maybe it would be with Lili now. Hopefully it was, was all she could wish for.
"Katherine," she jerked out of the daze she was fast settling into. She turned to look at the source of the deep husky masculine voice. Upon seeing his face, she turned her frown on her face into a smile for him. He was towering over her, and glancing down at her with worry at the same time. She gazed at him, thinking about how tall and handsome he was. And how that black button-up long sleeve collar shirt seem to fit him well with that long black pants of his. In short, he was an art piece.
Seeing his brows raised at her smile, she shook her head slightly, "Nothing, Michael." Then, she blushed and pointed at the empty box of tissue laying beside her. "Well, except I've caught a flu bug." She admitted, embarrassed.
With that, he laughed out loud and patted her head affectionately. He moved off in the direction of the kitchen, leaving her alone in the living room again. Kahoko pulled her legs up onto the beanbag and hugged them close to her chest. Katherine... What a beautiful name. She had come up with it in a rush few years back...
Pulling her luggage behind her on the uneven pavement, she almost tripped and fell onto the ground. She has got to find herself a job and perhaps be able to rent at least a tiny room to stay in. She would never want to stay on the street for even a night. It was dangerous. Especially for a female. That was probably why she was standing in front of an old, run down building. She supposed she could do some administrative work for an office. The education that she has received in Japan should be enough to at least secure such a job for her.
Upon entering the tiny room, she went up to the counter area as she spotted a young man lazing about. Perhaps she could ask him for some directions to the office or something. Glancing at the sign board over the counter, she really hoped that she could obtain a job soon. No matter what type of job it was. She has learnt some English in Seiko High. It might be of use now. The board read 'K&K Law Firm*'. She could be the receptionist? She thought about the possibility to herself.
"Excuse me; do you know where I should go for an interview?" She has been pretty blunt when she approached the man. He looked away from the book he was holding onto, which she could only assume that he was reading a fanciful magazine. Not that she was interested in whatever he was doing. But she just wished that he could be more of a help to her rather than being a huge giant wood block. He continued to look at his book and ignored her complete existence. Well, just great.
She placed the luggage next to her and towered over the table. Waving her hand in front of him, she almost shouted to get his attention. "Do you know where I should go-"She asked for the nth time as she became more impatient with the man. Although he looked handsome and hot, he has got quite a bad attitude. What the hell was just wrong with this dude? Just when she was about to grab her luggage and stomped out of the building, quite a few people entered the building at once.
"Michael Johnson! Is it true that you proposed to superstar Kelly Hilton?" One man with a microphone in his hand shoved Kahoko aside and shoved the microphone above the book he was holding onto.
"Is it true that Kelly Hilton accepted you proposal, Michael?" Another woman shouted as a few camera men hurried behind her. Kahoko stumbled aside with the luggage in her hand. Who are these people? She wondered as she observed the hustle and bustle going on around them.
Surprisingly, the man closed the book in his hand and gave them a brilliant wide smile. To the extent of almost causing a few female reporters to faint over it. Kahoko rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she continued to study him. She has been asking him a question for so many times, yet he did not answer her. But when a reporter asked him a question, he almost flashed them a smile in a second. And wait a minute. Just who is this guy? Why was he attracting so much media attention? Shaking her head in frustration, she pulled her luggage to the sofa near the door and settled down on it. She would stay till he answered her question then. Not who he was but rather about the important interview. She needed the job and the money. Heck, she did not want to find out who he was. Just her job. And her income.
The man in question shook his head and gave a pleasant smile to the reporters and the camera men, "Those are just rumors. Kelly and I are just good friends."
"Really? A reliable source told us about the news. Kelly is getting a divorce, are you the one who caused her to make this decision?" A male reporter dressed in a black sweater and faded blue jeans shouted from the back of the crowd that has gathered in front of the man.
The man frowned for a bit before waving his hand, "This is absolutely not true." He even tried to smile to cover up his frustration. Then, he stood up and moved to the front of the desk.
"But Michael! This source came from Kelly herself. How could this be inaccurate?" The male reporter continued to argue with what this 'Michael' has retorted.
Just as Kahoko was about to sit down on the beige-coloured sofa, someone claimed her hand and tugged her. She dropped her luggage to the ground and turned to face the person. Slightly annoyed, she prepared herself to shout at the rude person. However before she could even say anything...
"This is my girlfriend. I'm certain that it has all been a mistake with what Kelly has told you," The man winked at the reporters and hugged her close to his body, with his arm hanging around her shoulders. Kahoko felt like smacking the man, and perhaps shoving him down a flight of staircases.
Snaps were heard continuously after that, before she could even do anything at all. Boy, she was in trouble. She did not want the media attention. She was supposed to be missing, missing from Japan. No one in Japan should know where she was. If this got bad, really bad... She could not imagine. Frustrated, she pushed into a camera man innocently, causing him to drop his camera onto the floor with a loud 'crash'. As if she was falling, she fell onto him, causing the people beside him to be unable to take shots of the two of them. To the extent of reporters and camera men shoving and falling onto each other. At the very same moment, two bulky well-built security guards entered and drove all of them out, saved for the rude man and her.
She picked herself off the floor gracefully and turned to face him. Flushed, she glared at him angrily. Just who the hell do he think he is? The man stared back at her innocently, as if the incidents that has happened a few minutes back has not happened at all. Not only did she has a bad day, now she has met someone totally rude. Pissed, she scolded furiously, "Why did you make use of me? And who are you? What do you think you're do-"
Before she could finish her lecture, the man crossed his arms and smiled again. "You're hired as the company's receptionist."
Wait a minute. What did he just say?
Again, before she could ask for any clarification, he interrupted. "What's your name?"
Just by hearing the question, she froze and stared at him. She could not say she was Hino Kahoko. That might cause her some trouble again. She did not want anyone to track her down. Not even her family. Think... What name could she use? Certainly not a Japanese name. Maybe an English name. Well, she has been watching some shows on the plane just now. If only she could recall a name... Stefan? That's a male's name, she supposed. What about Bonnie? Sounded totally wrong. Perhaps... "Katherine?" She phrased it as if it was a question. It fitted her well, she thought. Kahoko and Katherine.
Nodding, the man picked up a paper from the desk and passed it to her. "Fill this up, will you?" He asked politely, a total change from his previous behavior. She took it into her hand. The problem was if someone found out that she has been using a fake name, that would be another problem as well. Her ID problem has been fixed before she left Japan, the name was a problem. Shaking her head in agony, she thought of a new way. She would leave here immediately after this to a law firm. Change her name or whatever it was. But where she was now, was a law firm.
"I'll fill it out soon. But are you the director of this law firm?" She asked as she folded the paper into quarters and stuffed it into her handbag. He looked pretty young. Like Azuma's age. Right...Azuma. Shaking her head again, she forced herself to stop thinking of that purple-haired man.
The man moved back to his seat and settled down on it slowly. He glanced up at Kahoko and studied her. "I'm Michael Johnson, son of Director Luke Johnson. I'm just helping him out since I'm free today," he answered charmingly. As if she was a reporter interviewing him of some sort. "You really do not know me? You're a foreigner, right?" he asked as he observed her features.
Alarmed, she flashed a smile at him. "I'm not really into reading magazines. I...I'm born in America and just returned from further studies. So my English is quite rusty..." She stuttered. She could even say her mother was a Japanese and her father an American. And he could not do anything about it, right? Her damn name. She need to change it.
Just as Michael was about to reply, a man walked out of the elevator. A man in his forties. Dressed up smartly in an Armani suit and black shiny leather shoes. He pushed his glasses up his nose bridge and glanced at his son and the slim woman. "I take it that she's the new receptionist?" He asked and gave her a welcoming smile.
Michael nodded and introduced them both quickly. "Katherine...?" Michael stopped halfway, hoping that she would supply her surname herself. Kahoko flushed bright red as if she was a deer caught in headlights.
Mr Luke Johnson was a smart man. He could probably look past everything and point out the truth. Sensing her uneasiness, he furrowed his eyebrow and tilted his head to one side. "Katherine isn't your real name," he pointed it out blatantly. He was certain of his assumption. He would not be wrong about this. Never has he been wrong about anything. He continued to look at her in silence.
With that, Kahoko almost fell to the floor. "Please employ me. I really need this job," she has pleaded with the man. Michael stood at one side, drinking in the scene.
"For a start, tell me your name and your background." The man has asked her. Surprisingly, she agreed to. She has agreed to tell him everything, but those were just about her old life. Name, age, schools and pretty much nothing more. They knew where she came from but not of the reason as to why she came. She even pleaded with them to keep her personal information a secret. They has agreed to it, not wanting to prod further. "As long as you worked well, I would not ask for anything more," he has told her that and helped her with the changing of her name on official documents.
From that day onwards, she was Katherine Johnson. An adopted daughter of the Johnson family. She was allowed to stay in the Johnson's family home. It was not much, but a nice warm little house. With five rooms. Only which three were occupied with the arrival of Kahoko. Since then, the house has been a lot more livelier. She has learnt more about the Johnson family. Like how Michael Johnson was a rising hot model for several famous brands. And how he majored in Laws in University, but was rather more interested in modeling for now.
She smiled to herself as she watched Michael returned to the living room with two cups of hot chocolate in his hands. "How is your new case coming along? Need my help?" He jokingly asked as he sat down next to her and handed her a cup.
Kahoko picked up the black bulky folder from the coffee table and passed it over to him, "Take a look. Quite a complicated case again. Wonder if I could do it." She then proceeded to scratch her head. Watching him read through, she smiled once again. If she had not met them, she wondered where and what she would be doing now. She was in debt to them. Shortly after she has been accepted to work in his father's company, she realised that she might as well do something useful instead of moping around. Gaining more exposure to laws, she became more interested in it, which soon morphed into an urge to study laws. With the aids of the Johnsons, she has been able to study in a prestigious university and majored in Laws. From then on, she has been working as a lawyer in the K&K Law Firm*. She was happy even though it was stressful and at times, tiring. Although she has never thought of becoming a lawyer, she found herself enjoying it. Her dream has always been to become a teacher. Preferably a violin teacher since she fell in love with the magical instrument. A lawyer was all she wanted to be now. This is her life now.
"I'm sure you will ace it. Won't you? Dad told me to inform you that his client is in town. So you have to meet him tomorrow at this hotel. I'll tell you more about it later," he returned the folder to her and winked mischievously at her. She nodded and watched him leaf through a few magazines. Mostly those that has his photographs in it. He was now the hottest model in America now. Probably internationally as well. Not that she would know, right? She was still a frog in a giant well,only able to see a bit of the sky. Still, she knew that he must be doing well. Why would girls shout his name so loudly when they see him then?
Noticing the vibrating phone in his pocket, he pulled it out smoothly and pressed the green button. "Yunoki Azuma," He greeted professionally as he still stood over the railings, watching tiny black dots moving beneath him. The shopping mall was really crowded with many people. God knows why people love shopping so much, he mused to himself.
A husky voice flowed into his ear, "Mr Yunoki, I'm Michael Johnson from K&K Law Firm*. We've looked over your folder. I've arranged for one of our best lawyers to handle your case."
Nodding, Azuma replied without any feelings, he has been that way since five years ago. As if he was a robot. "Yes, thank you very much for your help. And may I know who is handling my case?" He asked.
"She'll be meeting you tomorrow at 8pm at the lobby of River Lights' Hotel*, where you are accommodating at, ' Michael replied fluently before adding on, "The lawyer handling your case is Katherine Johnson."
Sneak Peek...Chapter III:
Looking around the lobby for the hundredth time, he was getting a little impatient. That was until a red headed woman emerged from beside a tree? What was she doing there? He gazed at her furiously, but almost became numb as he watched her features. Red headed, Slim, Tall... That lips of hers. Although this woman seem more dignified and graceful than his Kahoko, he was sure she was Kahoko. He knew every inch of her. This must be her. "Kahoko?"
Thanks to my WONDERFUL reviewers:
quincy-chan: I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.
Sachi;purplezandestechia;Jiyu22;animearchitect;Whispering Angels;caligirl: Thanks for giving me the GREEN LIGHT. I'll work on it;) Thanks for all the reviews. I LOVE you guys!
A/N:
Firstly, K&K Law Firm* and River Lights' Hotel* are fictional places. I did not have much time to do research and it is rather hard to try to be exact if I get something mixed up or wrong in the process. So bear with me. Secondly, as always, I would always love to learn about your views on this chapter or even your predictions. It will certainly make my day and help me in writing. As in it gets me in the mood of writing. This chapter has been rather late, as I was thinking about their encounter. Well, you will find that out in the next chapter. Signing off now;) Again, I hope that you have enjoyed reading. Thanks for reading it.