WHAT'S MINE IS MINE

CHAPTER NINE

"I'm going back to work tomorrow, whether you like it or not." Kahoko said as she pulled the blanket closer to her.

"Whether I like it or not?" He repeated with sarcasm in his tone.

"Yes." She nodded.

"No and I am going to make you accept that." He closed his book and placed it on the night stand.

Unexpectedly, Kahoko went atop him, held his face between her hands and gazed deep into his eyes.

"I'm serious." She began. "I am going to continue working as Kaji Aoi's secretary. Not because I love him but because I love working."

Yunoki wondered on where she got her daringness. "Persuade me."

Kahoko grimaced. Persuade him? As if he's easy to persuade. "It's final. I'm working tomorrow."

"No." He held her waist, preventing her from moving anywhere. "Kahoko, I'm wondering..." He was slowly smirking. Giving Kahoko the idea that he's up to something and that its of no good.

"What?" She awkwardly said.

"Do you prefer to be on top?" He said.

"What?!" Kahoko reacted. She seemed to be horrified at the thought.

Yunoki smiled sweetly. "My, I didn't know that you actually like it that way."

That sweet, angelic face somehow scares Kahoko because whenever he wears that face, he's keeping something and he's up to something. That emotion or face is just a facade over something.

"I-I don't!" She blushed so hard.

"Really?" He tilted his head.

But perhaps he was just trying to divert her attention. Kahoko's gaze tightened. He was just probably trying to tease her, for her to forget about what she actually wanted.

"Stop changing the subject. I will work tomorrow and its final." She tried slowly lifted her body, only to be pulled by him.

"You don't have to work. I can provide you with anything." He said with a serious tone.

She knows that but her work is her pride. "You don't get the point." She looked at him with confused eyes. "I work because I want to. When you met me, I am a career woman. I may not earn so much by just being his secretary but I learned to love whatever it is that I am doing." She paused for a while. "If you can't accept that, I don't know if I still want this relationship to work."

Yunoki looked at her, as if he was scrutinizing her every feature. "I wonder what you really love. Your work or him."

"Ugh!" Kahoko pushed herself up. "I am with you now. Why are you making it our issue when the issue is about us!"

"Suit yourself." He loosened his grip of her.

Kahoko stared at him. She couldn't understand why it was so hard for him to understand that she's after her work. That she doesn't want to depend on him. "Azuma... please."

He didn't answer.

"Azuma..." She mumbled. "Are we really going to put it on this way?" She questioned. She's tired of arguing. She doesn't wish them to be like this. "I'm with you and not him. So please understand." She laid herself atop him. "Don't make this hard for us."

Yunoki closed his eyes. He's jealous but he's not going to admit it. He wish to take her away from him but as head-strung as she is, doing that would mean argument between them.

"Good night." She went off him and laid on his side.

Even with the bidding, Kahoko was still unable to sleep. She couldn't sleep. He was meddling with her thoughts and she wants to end this coldness between them.

"Are you awake?" She asked.

There was no response.

"Azuma, talk to me." She held his arm.

Yunoki silently sighed then turned to look at her.

"Promise me one thing." He said.

"What?" She wondered.

"Come back." He said with no emotion written on his face.

Kahoko's eyes softened. "Of course you silly." She drew herself closer and laid her head on his shoulder.

•••

Kahoko successfully went back to work. Kaji reprimanded her for being absent for almost 2 weeks.

"That was evil." Kahoko told herself as she started working on some documents.

She had been working her butt out now, trying her very best to at least finish at least half of these 30 files that he had given to her to work on. Kaji was punishing her and he's a demon in his own way when he's displeased and yes, he's acting evil to her now.

Kahoko was very occupied with work when someone came to her table. The lady stood there, waiting for her to be noticed. When Kahoko slowly looked up, she was surprised at the sight of a lady in white. She urked.

"Hino-san." The lady shy said, trying to appease her of being horrified.

Kahoko then realized the lady's identity. "Takashina-san."

"I'm sorry if I startled you." She shyly lowered her gaze.

"N-no. It's okay." She answered.

"Hino-san, is.." Ayano was stopped when Kaji came out of the door.

"Kahoko, let's have dinner together." Kaji said while fumbling with some documents. When he looked up, he saw Ayano. She smiled at him. "Hey." He went to her and gave her a kiss on the lips.

Kahoko looked away but she saw their lips meet.

"What brought you here?" He asked.

"You." She said sweetly.

"It's rather surprising to have you here." He patted her shoulder. "Oh, do you have plans tonight? Are you available for dinner?"

Ayano looked at Kahoko. "I thought you're inviting Hino-san. It's your day together."

"She'll understand." Kaji shrugged. "And by the way.. she's being punished."

"Punished?" Kahoko mumbled.

"Punished?"Ayano curiously asked.

"Yes." Kaji nodded. "For being absent for almost 2 weeks without informing me and answering my calls." He turned to Kahoko. "Right Hino-san?"

Kahoko sighed. "Yes."

"But can we instead bring her with us?" Ayano politely said while giving Hino a smile in encouragement.

"I'll think it over." Kaji raised a brow at Hino.

'Say no. I don't want to, you know.' Kahoko thought as she averted her gaze to the documents piled before her.

"Come with us, Hino." He said.

Kahoko was wide-eyed. "No thanks. It's your day and by the way... I'm punished." She gave emphasis to the last word.

"Please Hino-san. It'll be our treat." Ayano smiled in a way that it would seem so rude to say no.

Kahoko smiled a little. "As much as I would want to, Yunoki-san will come any minute now. We'll have dinner together."

The two looked at her, as if she was the most intriguing subject ever. Kaji then averted his gaze.

"I-I see." Ayano said.

"Finish the files tonight. I need them by morning. Sorted and accomplished." Kaji instructed.

"Yes." Hino nodded. 'You'll see.'

"Hino, do you mind if we go ahead?" Kaji questioned.

"Not at all." She answered.

The two left the office. Kahoko actually lied. Yunoki wasn't going to come over. They didn't agree to have dinner together. He's going to have a dinner meeting with some important people and he won't be home by twelve. He's going to have an overtime.

"I might as well finish this." Kahoko went on to work with the documents. She was still on with the 10th document and its already 8:30 in the evening. She had to finish everything by morning.

•••

Yunoki's meeting wasn't pushed through, so he stayed on his office to look into some files when he received a call, summoning him back to the Yunoki manor.

"Good evening, Azuma-sama." The butler greeted as he bowed down before him. The maids too bowed in his presence.

"Tami-san, where's father?" Azuma asked politely.

"He's in the library Azuma-sama." The butler answered.

Azuma was immediately led to the library where his father was waiting for him.

"It's good to have you back, father." He smiled.

His father turned around from the window. "I've heard about the girl whom you're spending more of your time with."

Azuma's grip tightened.

•••

Kahoko sighed. It's already 11:45 in the evening and she's very tired. She had just finished the 19th document and she's on with the 20th.

"Oh, its late." Kahoko yawned. "I wonder if Azuma is in the condo now." She paused to stare at the wall clock. "Probably not." She said as she once again went back to work.

•••

"What are you thinking?" Azuma's father questioned.

Azuma looked down.

"Playing with some women as if you're husband and wife?" His father neared the office table and stared at Azuma. "Has it occurred to you that you are not capable of marrying someone who is not one of us."

Azuma thought of Kahoko.

"You're a Yunoki. You have the responsibility of obeying our rules. You are to marry someone who will strengthen our alliances and improve our business." He turned to the book on the top of his table.

"What if I love her?" Azuma said lightly.

His father snorted. As if it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "You know you don't have that privilege."

Azuma's eyes softened as he remembered Kahoko's smile.

"Father..." He said.

His father looked at him. Wondering what he had to say.

"Did you ever love my mother?" Azuma questioned. This time, he was looking at his father.

Yunoki Akira stayed still. His face had no emotion on. "Just leave the woman Azuma. You know that she'll never be accepted by us."

•••

Kahoko fell asleep as she finished her 30th document at exactly two in the morning. She was still in the office when she felt something vibrate on the table. She lazily moved her hands in search of her phone but when she wasn't able, she lifted her head and looked for it. When she found it, she took her phone and brought it to her ears.

"Yes?" She said weakly.

Azuma smiled at the sound of her voice. "Are you home now?" He asked.

"A-azuma!" She sat straight. She then had realized that she was still in the office. "Not yet. I fell asleep."

"I see." He merely responded.

"Are you in the condo already?" She wondered.

"No." He looked at the city lights.

"Where are you then?" She curiously asked.

"I'm at work." He leaned back on his chair.

"Still?" She wondered if he was alright.

"Yes." He said. "Hmm, Kahoko?"

"Yes?" She looked at the clock.

"I won't be back for 2 months. I'm leaving." He said calmly.

"Why?!" She questioned, curious on why he had to leave so soon. "Where are you going?"

"I have things to attend to." He said, leaving her no chance to question. "And I wish you to stay with your parents."

"Can't I just stay in the condo?" She was frowning. She didn't like what she was hearing.

"I want you to stay accompanied. I won't be with you and no one will take care of you, so please go with them." Azuma drew circles on his arm chair.

"I'm okay with being alone." She said.

Azuma closed his eyes. "No. I'm making this a request. Please go back to your family while I am away."

"Can't I see you?" She asked, wondering why he sounded different.

Azuma opened his eyes. "I'm leaving an hour from now." And that was a lie. He wasn't going to go anywhere.

"I want to see you." She doesn't understand but somehow, something was telling her that something was wrong.

"I will see you when I've handled everything." He merely answered.

"Azuma, where are you going?" She badly wants to see him.

"I can't delay Kahoko. I have to go. Take care of yourself okay? And don't do anything reckless." He said before he hung up, not giving her a chance to respond.

Kahoko stared at her phone. It was just a 2 minutes call and she wasn't satisfied especially to the fact that she won't be seeing him for 2 months. Everything was hanging. She doesn't know where he'll go or what caused him to leave with such urgency! She had the right to know, right? She was his girlfriend.

Kahoko shook her head and decided to send him a message.

To: Yunoki Azuma

I'll wait for your return. Take care okay? And please don't exhaust yourself.

•••

When Azuma received her message, he was wondering if he did what's right for the both of them. He's not going to leave her. He's just trying to create a bit space. He wanted her but his family doesn't want him to want her. To have her. He's not willing to let her go and he won't, not a chance. She's his and no one can ever change that. But he doesn't know how long he will be able to hold on to what they have.

His thoughts then went to the talk that she had with his father. Especially to his question which his father left hanging. Well, he knew that his father was merely asked to marry his mother for the sake of expanding the business. His father was the only child, the only heir of the Yunoki clan and he had to marry whoever was there that could give them a strong alliance for the clan to strengthen. He knew that. Azuma knew that. He never saw his father give affection to his mother. He never saw them kiss nor hug. His mother was way under the commands of his father. He was superior than she was. It was what their culture obliged them to fulfill, was it not? For women to submit to their husbands. To give them support, to give them heirs and satisfy them in bed.

To be honest, Azuma was never close to his parents. He and his younger sister Miyabi grew up under the care of their grandmother. But she died when Azuma was in first year college. She was a strong woman for an elderly. She was authoritative. His other two brothers were the only ones privilege to be with their parents. They were the only ones who knew them.

Azuma wished he was able to know his parents. It was his dream when he was a child. But it's never going to happen. His mother died 3 years ago and the only one left was his father.

"Would I receive the same fate too?" He asked himself as he thought of marrying someone like Ayano. He thought of having a wife who would merely strengthen his rule as a Yunoki, give him an heir and try to satisfy him in bed. But she'll merely give him children who would be distant to him. And the cycle would continue, would it? Since they'll have to follow the tradition.

•••

It's been a month and 2 weeks since she had last seen him. She did his request though. She went back to her parent's house and stayed there until he would come back. Work for her was somehow okay. There was nothing stressful. Everything was under control but one thing was not good for her...

Being away from him.

"Kahoko?" Kaji went out of his office and looked at his best friend who was staring at the clock. She seemed to be in a state of trance. "Kahoko?" He leaned on the wall.

Kahoko gently sighed while tilting her head. Suddenly...

"Kahoko!" He raised his voice, making Kahoko jump off her seat.

"What?!" She glared.

"What's wrong?" He wondered.

"Nothing." She sat back on her seat.

"Don't talk to me as if I do not know who you are and what you are when you're not yourself." He crossed his arms.

Kahoko leaned back on her seat and tapped her ballpen on the table.

"Come on, tell me. What's wrong? You've been weird for quite sometime now." He said.

"I'm not." She shook her head.

"Really?" He raised a brow. "You space out... a lot. Sometimes, you're looking at a person and yet your mind is out there, wandering somewhere and you are often staring at your phone. And you say that you're not weird? Well, how can you explain those peculiar actions?"

Kahoko pressed her lips, forming a thin line.

"Tell me." He went near her and sat on the chair before her table.

Kahoko stared at him then averted her gaze. "I haven't seen him for a month now." She began.

"And so that's why you're weird?" Kaji smiled.

"I'm not weird." She snubbed. "Well, he never called since the day he left."

Kaji began to wonder. "He left without any word?"

"No. He called me the day he left. He said he was leaving but he didn't tell me where he was going." She answered. "He that he'll be away for 2 months."

Kaji did not say anything. He just gazed at her. She looked so disappointed. "You're in love aren't you?"

"Wh-what?!" She reacted at the thought of being in love.

"Are you not?" He smiled sheepishly. "Well, you're missing him."

"A-ah." She looked at her hand.

"Come on Kahoko. Your boyfriend is a very busy man. He's a CEO for crying out loud. Understand that." Kaji stood up. "For the mean time, you and I can go grab dinner."

"I'm not hungry." Kahoko refused.

"Come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

"I don't want to go out. I want to go home." She pulled back.

"You're lovesick, not homesick. Let's go." He dragged her away from there.

The two went to some burger shop. They used to go there when they were high school. Kaji was somehow glad that the place was still up.

"If you miss him, why don't you call him and tell him that you miss him?" Kaji suggested.

"Well, I don't want. That would make me needy." Her face soured.

"Girls." Kaji commented.

"And what does that suppose to mean?" She raised a brow.

" Kahoko, sometimes, a simple "I miss you" changes everything." He smiled. "For us, if a girl admits that she misses us, we mean something to her. And its not acting needy. You're not going to quarrel him for his absence are you?" He laid his palm open. "And besides, you're his girlfriend. You have the privilege of saying that to him and who knows... maybe he was just waiting for you to miss him."

Kahoko pondered on the thought. Well, Kaji was actually right. She has the right to say that. They're in a relationship for pete's sake. And yet here she goes, letting her pride build up a gap between them.

"My, my... Kahoko, I'm starting to wonder what would it feel if you're my girlfriend. You're kind of hard to handle." Kaji smiled.

"I don't think that that's a good feed back." She looked away.

"You too prideful for a woman. Too much of a hassle. A challenge." He shrugged.

"Wow. Thanks a lot." She shook her head.

"Kahoko, have you ever heard that 'If a woman is is easy, she wouldn't be worth it?'" He asked.

"What?" She looked at him from the corner of her eyes.

"If a woman is easy, she wouldn't be worth it, so... if she's hard to get, hard to handle, she's worth it." He said. "And you're worth it."

Kahoko sat straight. Startled at his words.

"Kahoko, have you ever thought or has it ever cross your mind that... maybe, just maybe... you and I are destined for each other?" He said with a smile.

"Wh-what's with the question?" She found the question impertinent. Because, YES! It crossed her mind. She imagined them to be with each other but she knew it will never happen.

"I was just wondering because I thought of it. I was just curious if you thought of it too." He sipped his ice tea.

"Well..." She looked at the burger man on the counter as she tried arranging her thoughts. "perhaps. But that would be too impossible, would it?" She smiled awkwardly.

Kaji looked at her. "Actually, no."

"Well, you're not in love with me. We both have someone." She looked at his soft emerald eyes. She had always thought that his eyes are that of emerald. Precious and enchanting.

"But... what if I'll wake up and realize that I was actually in love with you. Sometimes, you won't immediately realize that you love someone until you hit a wall and you look at the person again." He seemed to be scrutinizing her face.

"Well, we wouldn't know until it'll happen would it? But.." She turned her attention to the ketchup bottle since the bottle seemed interesting at a very muddling situation.

"But don't you think its nice? You and I... best friends and at the same time, in love?" He seemed to have taken her imagining.

"It would be." She obliviously said. "Ah-I mean, maybe, it would be."

Kaji merely smiled.

When they were through, Kaji conducted Kahoko back to her parents house.

"Why staying here? What about your apartment?" He asked. "Its far from work."

"Yunoki-san wanted me to stay here. He thought that I'd be safer here than living alone." She answered. "So, hey, thanks for the treat."

"You're welcome." Kaji smiled.

Kahoko then opened the door and went out. "Drive safely." She bid him. He nodded and then went.

As soon as the car went, Kahoko turned around, sighed and took two steps forward but was stopped when she heard fast-paced footsteps drawing closer to her. When she turned back, her body came in contact with someone. She didn't know who that was until she smelled the person's scent. Who would simply forget the smell of that man...

"Azuma?" She found herself saying.

"I was gone for a while and you're dating him?" He embraced her tight.

"I wasn't." She said. "I-I..." She wanted to say something but something took over her. There was something that she wanted to do which was far more nice than arguing with him. She embraced him.

"Let's go." He said as he pulled her to the dark alley where he parked his car.

The two drove away. Kahoko had no idea on where he was taking her. She didn't bother asking. She was glad that he was back. He was holding her hand while he was driving.

It was a 45 minute drive and he was driving too fast. He brought her to the beach. It was a far secret beach resort. Some attendants bowed to him. Yunoki merely glanced at them in recognition but didn't stop. He brought her to their cottage. It was a very beautiful cottage. There was this air of hawaii look. There were kalachuchi flower all around and the place had soft lights. There was a white bed and their porch was like an opening to the beach.

As soon as he closed the door, he pulled her, turned her around and kissed her hungrily. Kahoko allowed herself to be swept away. She kissed him with all her might. As his lips busied themselves on her lips, his hand occupied themselves by roaming all around her. His lips then trailed to her cheek, running to her jaw.

"Azuma," she clung to him. "I-I miss you."

Thank caused him to stop. He looked pulled back and looked at her in the eyes. She was looking back with her cheeks tainted red.

"Azuma, I-I-I..." She lowered her gaze. "I love you." She said as she finally looked at him in the eyes.

This caught him in great surprise.

"How come you're saying that?" He questioned.

"I don't know." She looked away. It's what my heart was telling me. She clenched her fist.

Azuma embraced her tight. He wanted to be with her. He had watched her everyday. He secretly watch her and it was painful. It was painful because he's in love with her but loving her was bad. It was wrong.

"Say it again if you mean it." He whispered. "I want to hear it."

"I-I-I love you." She softly said. "I love you, Azuma."

That was a sin. A huge sin. It was wrong for them to have that feeling. It was a bittersweet feeling which makes him to want more.

"come to the sea with me." He whispered to her ear.

They went to the shore. Azuma started to unbutton his shirt. She watched him. She doesn't understand what they're going to do but she won't miss this chance of being with him. Her heart had been beating out loud now. Ever since he had embraced her, held her hand inside the car and kissed her passionately inside their cottage room, but up until now, it didn't stop. Perhaps, Kaji was right. Love often work differently.

She slowly unbuttoned her blouse and dropped it on the sand. She then worked on with her skirt and let it fall on the sand together with her blouse. She was just on her underwear now. He was looking at her. He was merely on his boxers. He was smiling at her and offered her his hand. Kahoko looked at it then gently took a hold of his hand.

Slowly... he led her to the water.

The moon was high up. It created a beautiful reflection on the waters, making the water glimmer around them. Kahoko was surprised at how warm the water was. But what surprised her was the fact that her eyes couldn't stop staring at him. He was so beautiful. So so beautiful. She was never taken by his looks before but she never found him to be lacking in that department. His sight seemed to be a wonderful thing for her. Was it due to his absence? Or he became much more appealing because she loves him?

Love.. what a queer word.

He had led her somewhere deep. To the area where the water had come to reach her shoulders. He opened his arms for her and she gladly took it. She thought he would kiss her... but he merely stooped down and placed his head against her own. Forehead to forehead.

"Don't take back what you've said. Don't tell me you were just carried away." He said while locking his eyes with her own. "Just don't take it back."

"I won't." She reached for his cheek. "Why are you acting strange?"

He merely smiled as he kissed her lightly on her lips. He was peaking her lips lightly. She was counting. He did it eight times, side by side.

Something was wrong... Kahoko somehow felt like something was not right. 'Oh please...not when I am feeling like this.' She thought to herself. 'Not when I knew I love this man.' She placed her arms around his neck. "Tell me, where have you been and how everything went?"

"Don't ask me anything." He said. "Just love me."

He wanted this. He wanted her to love him. He wanted to feel how it feels to be loved. To be loved by the person he wanted.

"I love you. I do." She climbed up him, wrapping her legs around his waist. It seemed to her that she wanted to do that. That felt right. Being there with him felt right.

Yunoki heard his heart drum. No one ever made it drum hard the way she did.

"Kahoko," He said gently.

It the mere sound of it, Kahoko found herself aroused. She doesn't understand how a simple calling of her name from him would make such a difference. She kissed his earlobe. She never did this to him but he was able to do it to her a lot of times. Always to be exact.

Yunoki moaned. 'I need you.' He thought. But he wouldn't say it. It would make it seem like a crime.

His father made new arrangements for him to be tied up to a woman from a rich family. He met her. He played as if he was interested. Talked to her, dated her. But he didn't enjoy it one bit. He didn't like it. It was against his will. Their families are now trying to arrange things up and that means losing her... his Hino Kahoko. He felt like he was betraying her... so to appease himself, he secretly watch over her. To see if she's okay. If she'll well and happy. But every sight of her makes him grow with longing. It was too agonizing.

He wanted to tell her everything but telling her would mean cutting ties with her. It was too soon. Too soon for the both of them. They had just began living together and now they're going to break up. Now that she had come to love him. He was waiting for that. And now that it's real, he's going to break her heart by telling her that they can't be together.

Not tonight. He's not going to let her go too soon. He'll try to see what he could do. If there was something he could do. Tonight, he's going to love her and she's going to love him. Equal now. No holds barred.

The two were now on the shore, lying on the sand, making love under the moonlight. To the area where the waves would come and kiss the shores as foams.

"Azuma..." She said his name. She was on all fours while Yunoki was at her back. He was pushing in and out of her. She felt their position difficult. It was new to her and she found it uncomfortable... but since they we're already on it, there was no stopping.

When they were through, Kahoko fell on the sand. She was lying in supine while Azuma sat down for a while as he watched her and fell on his back. He was grasping for her like she was. He turned to his side and looked at her. Her eyes were close. She was red. He could see her face through the moon's illumination. He reached for her cheek and caressed her face. Kahoko gently opened her eyes and smiled at him. She struggled to move closer and returned his stare.

"Is everything okay?" She asked.

"Yes." He answered.

"Will you be away again?" She wondered.

"I was thinking..." He laid himself flat. "What if we take a vacation for awhile?"

"For how long?" She curiously said.

"A week?" He was looking at the moon and the stars.

"Where are we going?" She didn't her eyes off him.

"Anywhere as long as we're together." He glanced at her.

Kahoko smiled. She liked how that sounded. She slowly lifted her body and kissed his cheek.

"A week of being together after a long period of absence." She said. "I missed you."

He looked at her eyes. She didn't seem forced with her words. She had the looks of someone who was in love. And he was staring at her. She was gazing deep into his eyes. Something then glittered, catching his attention. She was wearing his ruby necklace on.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've nailed it! I finished my school works and I received good marks. :) I've read your reviews too. Thank you. You're the reason why I am continuing this. The reason why I am looking for time to continue this story. this is for you dear readers. Sorry for the typos. Sometimes I am so preoccupied, that I fail to notice whatever it is that I am typing.

Back to the story. Was the conflict far too soon? Hmmm, well, due to the absence. Due Kahoko missed Azuma too much. Imagine being with the person for so long and not seeing him all of a sudden. Especially if the person is as caring and attentive as Azuma. Not to mention being too physical. She now loves him! Loving him at a wrong time! Azuma's father had interfered. Very displeased to know that his youngest son had been flinging with some secretary. So now he's arranging Azuma with someone. He thinks low on love and seem to be against it. Azuma's arranged to someone now. What will happen to Kahoko? Now that she loves him already?

Please critique! Please tell me what you think. Violent reaction perhaps? Or any reactions pleaseee. :)

Please wait for the next update. :)