December 23rd
Tres Spades, Japan's first hotel and casino since the end of World War II, owned by the Asahina family for many generations, currently headed by Asahina Kokoa, Yayoi's aunt on her late father's side; a forty-six year old woman who bares a youthful look of being thirty.
It was a chilly morning when Shizuka stopped by the penthouse to drop off a few goods. She was wearing a long, hooded ash colored knit coat, the front left open so she cold easily gain access to her guns, a pale gray knit scarf and black leather gloves. She wore off white skinny jeans with velvet, gray brown high heels boots, her trademark guns latched on like always.
She carried a bag with a few drinks inside, humming her favorite song, Fly Me to the Moon. When she reached the penthouse, she immediately walked into the small kitchen, opening the fridge and finding other bottles of different flavors inside, and she takes a few out, making sure none of them were alcoholic for the younger members.
It wasn't long until she could hear footsteps at the door, glancing slightly behind her.
"Ara, I heard you were here, Shizuka-chan."
She turns to the door where she heard a voice and she sees Asahina Kokoa, accompanied by two body guards as usual.
She wore a cute decorative hat with a black lace and fishnet bow, the ends flowing down on one side, and her ash blonde hair was loosely curled, her hazel eyes look dynamic as ever with her smokey eyeshadow. She wore a long royal purple bodycon dress with an off shoulder black lace design, flowing into sleeves that reached over her wrists, and around her arms was a thick medium gray fur boa.
"Hoo~ if it isn't Asahina-san. I didn't expect a visit from you today." She grins, holding a bottle up. "Care for a drink of apple cider?"
"No thank you, I wont be here for too long." She replies as Shizuka shrugs, placing the bottle back into the fridge. "There was something I wanted to ask you, and I'm really glad that I was able to find you this morning."
"Indeed. So, what can I help you with?" Shizuka walks out from the kitchen, feeling Kokoa's bodyguards eyes following her as she leans her left shoulder against a pillar, crossing her arms.
"Please leave us." She gestures to her guards ad they bow, walking out of the room as she commanded, but Shizuka wasn't letting her guard down. "I just wanted to say how honored I am to have you host a lovely event at my Tres Spades. The penthouses are a jewel to the eye and the rich and famous are always eager to reserve them, as you know...but the King takes all." She walks towards the tall glass windows, gazing out at the morning sun and Shizuka smirks.
"Ah, but it wasn't me who personally asked for the reservation, but Yayoi."
"Even so, I favor both of you above all, and even if you weren't a King, I would still give you the penthouse." She quickly replies and Shizuka purses her lips, lifting her chin slightly up as she looks at Kokoa, who avoids making eye contact.
"Is that so?" She quietly says. So...does she plan on interrogating me about the catering, I wonder. She thought.
"Speaking of my niece...she turned down my offer to cater the party. How unfortunate. I have the best chefs who would have prepared the finest buffet for you and your Clan." Kokoa looks at her with a pitiful look in her eyes, which was had no effect on Shizuka and she thought Spot on. "Sate my curiosity, Shizuka-chan. What was her real reason if you happen to know that."
Shizuka shifts her weight away from the pillar, putting a hand on her hip. "Forgive me for saying this to you, Asahina-san, but isn't it better to ask her yourself instead of me?"
Kokoa was drawn aback with her question.
"I really do appreciate all you have done for us, especially with the decorations, but I am not a tyrant to my Clansmen so the decisions they make are their own, and I have and always will respect whatever it is...I hope you understand as someone who holds a similar position as I do." Shizuka stood her ground with a soft smile as she awaits Kokoa's answer, who hesitates for a moment before answering.
"I-I understand. Yes, I'll speak to Yayoi myself about it. Please excuse my rudeness." She bows, feeling her emotions in turmoil and she clenches her fist.
"Hai hai~ There's nothing to worry about. Now are you sure you don't want a drink or anything?" Shizuka offers but Kokoa shakes her head.
"Like I said earlier, I wasn't planning on staying for too long, which I should take my leave now and return to my duties. Have a good day." She bows and Shizuka returns the gesture.
"As for you as well." She straightens up, looking smug, and watches as Kokoa exits the room. After a few steps out of the penthouse, Kokoa's face turns grim, her guards taken aback by her sudden change of expression. They head down to the first floor, her hands were still clenched and she was aggravated. I can't believe a child stood up to me, embarrassing me like that! She screamed in her head, her bodyguards follow behind her closely. Kids these days...they're all so uppity!
Back in the penthouse, Shizuka brings a finger to her chin, glancing to the side as she ponders. Beating around the bush instead of getting straight to the point huh? She hasn't changed at all with the games. She thought, chuckling. But I wonder why she is so eager to provide for us? Perhaps for influence...or something much worse?
While she pondered, she feels one of her phones ringing a text in her coat pocket and she reaches in to grab it, pulling out her personal phone and recognizing the tone, looking at the screen to confirm her suspicions and it reads Ijuin Naoki.
She opens the text and reads it as she walks towards the windows:
You won't be too busy on New Years, right? Perhaps we can get together and visit the shrine then if tomorrow is a no-go?
She was curious of his intentions, but she replies to him in a timely manner:
You'll have to forgive me but I rarely spend time with my family and my breaks are reserved only for them. Catch me at another time and I'll see then.
After sending it, she holds her phone close to her lips, which slightly curled into a grin. It seems like I'm in a bit of a predicament. How interesting.
Around noon, Yayoi was at the Metropolis airport sitting down at the luggage claim area as she awaits for the arrival of Kuriyama Ace, an Iridescent Clansmen as well as another director of operations.
She was wearing a long navy blue suit coat with a gold jeweled epaulette on her left shoulder. Her dress pants matched and she wore black high heels, the underside a gold color.
She sighs, glancing around and recalling the email Ace had sent her, explaining his arrival time to Tokyo and to not tell her highness that he was coming back.
Childish. She thought, but she fulfilled his wish anyways, having told Shizuka about running errands and drove to the airport in time for his flight to land.
After waiting for another ten minutes, she catches a familiar figure walking towards her pulling a silver suitcase with him at the corner of her eye and she turns to see Ace, then she stands up with a smirk, holding a hand out.
"It's good to see you again, Kuriyama."
"And you too, Asahina." Ace grins confidently at her, shaking her hand.
Ace was the same age as Yayoi and was a tall and muscular man with striking amethyst eyes and silver gray hair. His voice was deep and mature; women are often infatuated with it. He wore a black military trench coat over a medium gray hooded jacket underneath with a black and gray stripped scarf around his neck, dark blue cargo pants and black combat boots.
He had a gentleman's personality and cared about a woman's feelings and her needs; however this makes him seem like a playboy since he is kind to everyone, which, in Yayoi's opinion, is the reason why he is still single.
"You weren't supposed to be back until New Years." Yayoi says as they walk out of the airport, heading to the car.
"We got things done early with the shoot. Now we're playing the waiting game until they release the movie in theaters. Isn't that exciting?" He asks.
"I guess." She answers, seeming uninterested and he frowns at her.
Normally, he would have offered to drive as they approach the car, but knowing Yayoi, he knew she was a strong independent woman who had her own intentions, which he respected and allowed her to take control of how they were going to go back to Iris. She unlocks the car and pops open the trunk for Ace. He puts his suitcase inside as she sits down in her seat, starting the engine and waiting for him, hearing the trunk close. He then makes his way to the passenger side, opening the door and finally stepping in.
Yayoi pulls out from the parking lot and navigates throughout the terminal until she could find her way back to the highway.
"You didn't tell Takahiro I'm coming back did you?" He asks after a long silence.
"She has no idea. She's been too busy packing to go home and preparing for the party, which I expect you'll be attending?" She replies, merging into the interstate.
"Hai hai." He yawns, shutting his eyes and leaning back in his seat. "It'll be good to see everyone again."
