Diamond Rose
Chapter 11
Snapshots of Time
Lenalee sat up, slapping her alarm clock with a little more force than required. She frowned, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she read the numbers glowing on the clock's face. 4:08 AM.
She didn't remember setting it to ring at that time but it didn't matter now. She was wide awake and the look of her just-out-of-bed, dishevelled self in the mirror was enough to get her out of bed. She had always been conscious about how she looked. It was never a good first impression to look sloppy.
The Chinese girl jumped when she heard a motorcycle rush past on the street outside. Blinking the remnants of sleep out of her eyes, she turned on the lamp on her bedside table and smiled as the walls had an orange-yellow glow thrown onto them. Lenalee stepped to her wardrobe, sliding the door open to reveal it's designer items. Seeing as the days were getting warmer, she chose a pale blue blouse and a rather special pair of dress pants.
Her brown eyes lingered on the butterfly design on the left pant leg for a moment too long – tempting old memories out.
Lenalee arrived in Tokyo at the age of 18, under the guidance of her mentor, Kazu Nakajima and the first thing she had done was walk into somebody. Not only had she tripped over him but she had dropped her carry-on luggage that contained the pair of dress pants she had been planning to embroider a design onto. Perhaps that worry should not have been the first thing on her mind but back then, clothes was the main thing she thought about. "Oh gods-" She had only just realised the horrific reality of what had happened, "I'm so sorry-"
She was on her knees beside who was possibly the most gorgeous male specimen of the human race she had ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, there was an irritated expression on his face. "Don't you watch where you go?"
In accented Japanese, she stuttered a reply, "U-Um, I'm sorry." She stood a little shakily and he did at the same time. Gosh that ponytail was distracting.
As Lenalee admired him, he was picked up the dress pants and was studying the pages of designs that had fluttered out with it. The 18 year-old immediately felt her cheeks go pink.
He flicked through the first two pages, blue eyes lingering on each design for several seconds before folding them neatly and replacing them in the bag and handing it to her. Surprisingly, he was smiling, "I suggest the butterfly pattern." And with those five words that made a sentence, he was gone.
Lenalee couldn't suppress a silly smile. Who knew that was her first meeting with Kanda Yuu. Without any more hesitation, she was dressed and headed down the corridor to her bathroom. It was going to be a good day.
Take a trip,
Stroll down the memory lane,
Admire the happy moments,
Bask in the sunny days,
Do you remember?
LENALEE LEE
That was what the plaque on the table said. Lenalee turned to Kazu, "Oh my gosh. I've been-"
The red-haired woman nodded, making her chandelier earrings swing in a rather distractive manner. "Yes. Finally, right before Christmas. You're now a fully-employed member of this company. Let this be my gift to me." She took a step towards the door, "Work's over. Let's go and have some fun."
And Lenalee obliged. After all, she had just gotten a job with one of the biggest entertainment companies after almost an entire year of hard work. She was surely entitled to some celebration.
The pair stepped out of the building, waving abnormally cheerful goodbyes to the receptionist. It was snowing outside, cold yes, but it was a beautiful sight.
Kazu sighed, her breath condensing before disappearing into the air, "Such a beautiful day. Those snobs working with Miyako Hidaka shouldn't have scheduled the photoshoot for tomorrow. Such a waste."
Lenalee laughed as they started down the streets, "Well, however shameful, what's done is done. Besides, you aren't in charge."
That sly smile. "I just care for my favourite singer's photo shoots." The thirty-three year-old stopped next to a shop window. There were plenty of those littered around – all over-decorated for Christmas. But what had made her stop-? "Lenalee."
"Yes?"
"I have the perfect Christmas gift for you. Early once again. But seeing that I'm leaving for Kyoto tomorrow …" Without hesitation, she started into the store, at the same time motioning for the Chinese girl to wait outside.
And she did, breathing out clouds of warm breath as she waited for Kazu to emerge. Lenalee was facing away from the shop window, wanting to surprise herself. Whatever gift her mentor wished to buy for her – she did not want to see until it was given to her. And thus, she hadn't noticed Kazu grin inside and snap a picture before turning and fussing over the wrapping. Of course, it wasn't natural for one to use the new camera and then have it wrapped but Kazu's persuasive skills were good enough to have the shop assistant agree half-heartedly.
The door slid open a few moments later to reveal Kazu carrying a box. White snowflakes of different sizes dotted the black outside of the bow and the white ribbon held the lid in place. The box was slid into Lenalee's hands along with a message. "Don't open it until 10:20 on Christmas morning."
Looking up, puzzled, Lenalee questioned her mentor, "Why?"
"Don't ask why. Just do it."
"Okay."
The next morning, Lenalee turned on her laptop to find an email waiting for her. And seeing the sender, she had no hesitation when clicking the message to open it.
SUBJECT: Cya
SENDER: Kazu Nakajima
TO: Lenalee
Cya. And Merry Christmas.
I was going to leave it at that.
Only I won't. There's a lot to say and I might as well say it now.
I said I'm leaving for Kyoto. I lied. I'm not going to Kyoto. I'm leaving for the US. I love Japan. You know I do. I wish there was enough time to drag you around Japan – to show you everything I loved. But sometimes, a job offer comes your way and you have to take it.
The time I'm spending there is undecided – but it's definitely over 8 months. Maybe that's the reason why the boss decided to employ you full time – but if you ask me, I say that she should have done it way earlier.
Anyway, hopefully I'll be back soon. In the meantime, don't soil my reputation. Do your best!
And go to the park near your apartment today – be there at 10:15am. Take my gift with you. If I find out that you didn't go, I'll get mad. Stay there until somebody talks to you. Remember. Open the gift at 10:20, of any time around that really. And wear those personalized dress pants I happen to know you have.
Merry Christmas.
Cya.
-Kaz.
Lenalee blinked as her eyes roamed to the time in the corner of her laptop screen. It winked 10:05 AM at her. She slammed the laptop shut and ran to her wardrobe. She pulled the door open, selecting a few items – the dress pants, a deep purple turtleneck and midnight blue down jacket. She ran out of her apartment after pulling on a pair of sneakers. It was cold. But she didn't care. If Kazu told her to go somewhere and meet someone, she would go.
That was how much Lenalee owed Kazu.
SUBJECT: Pink Diamond
SENDER: Kazu Nakajima
To: Lenalee
Hey~
What's this I heard about you and Kanda participating in the shoots for Pink Diamond? Last time I checked it was only you organising the Miku & Lavi shoot. Now Kanda's participating with that actress Sorane.
I don't know what you guys spoke about, all I did that day was make sure he talked to you. That's what he wanted.
Anyway, I'll be looking out for how you do. Or send me an email. I heard there's going to be some silly voting thing? Or is that just a rumor?
-Kaz
My memories,
A tangled net of feelings,
Moments I will never forget,
My favourite times,
And the hardest times,
Are clearer than the others,
Snapshots of time.
