A/N: hey guys! here's an update.. ^^, done this while am at work... ahahaha beats the boredom...
I just want to thank those who reviewed my story and still reading them.. i want you to know that your reviews and taking time to just read my fics gives a smile to my face. with that i'm motivated to continue writing as fast as i can while multitasking at work :D
more love and hope for peace~! \('-')/ Zaki-kun
Chapter 12: Fragments
She stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Sun with Nina to bond aswell as avoid any other embarrassing attempts of the singer. She hated it when her personal space is being invaded by someone other that Nina. A calm cold breeze greeted her when she exited the restaurant. Sure, it was refreshing but the coolness of the air gave her left hand a slight painful twitch. She rubbed her left hand, still feeling the pain from it, and sighed heavily. She looked up to the darkening sky and sarcastically laughed softly. 'How long has it been since I have been feeling all these pain? Kami-sama! Why are you still punishing me? Ain't it enough that I already lost her and gain these shackles you call life!' she mentally cursed, not realizing that she had already slammed her left hand to the wall beside her and the pain it created. "Why do I bother with all these charades if in the end, it's all just a dream!" she snarled to no one.
"You must not abuse your body Nat-su-ki~!" a someone said with a thick Kyoto-ben accent.
The blunette does not need to look at who spoke to her fro she recognized the accent even in her sleep. Giving the Kyoto-ben actress a bored expression and hiding her pained left hand, Natsuki remained quiet fow a few seconds. She felt the twitch again as the cool breeze passed them. "You know you should head back inside. Your boyfriend might be worried about you." She said in a deadpanned voice.
A façade smile graced Shizuru's face and the anger she felt before remained contained inside. Ignoring what her fiancée said, she looked at the busy street, trying to avoid Natsuki's gaze. "I see that Natsuki's quite famous with celebrities." She paused; imaginary needles were now pricking her heart. "And having Sun Seto dine with you must made men cry in disappointment. Let alone having her as Nina's mommy." She said in a rather sadden voice.
Natsuki raised a brow, giving Shizuru a questioning look. "What the hell are you trying to say Viola?" she asked in confusion.
"Ara~ I heard Nina refer Seto-san as her 'mommy' so I'm under the impression that Sun Seto is Natsuki's girlfriend." She cleared out, having her own voice rather heavy to let out.
"I'd rather be a single parent than have Sun's girlfriend or the girlfriend's father after my neck. So don't jump to any conclusion Viola." She informed the actress. A sigh followed her sentence and lazily looked at the road. "I'm too busy and my hands are already full when it comes to Nina, so I prefer to stay single and wait. Well not technically single since I have you at the moment for this mock engagement of ours…" she informed the tawny haired actress.
Shizuru could not help but smile truthfully. She does not know why she felt happy upon hearing Natsuki being single and the unknown feeling of wanting to glomp Natsuki. A rather strange feeling for her. She stared at Natsuki, watching her every feature and actions, her attention was caught by Natsuki's wincing face. She thought why the blunette was silently twitching as if she's feeling pain even though they are far from any danger. She turned her attention to Natsuki's gloved hand and saw it balled up into a fist tightly. 'Is she hurt? Is that why she has that glove?' she questioned herself, unconsciously reaching out to hold Natsuki's hand. Touching the slick leather, her hand gently held the said hand and felt a bump on the ring finger and a longer bump on the back of the palm. Feeling the bumps made the brunette snap out of her trance-like action and looked into emerald surprised eyes.
The owner of the hand widen her eyes and retracted the said hand away from the brunette actress as soon as she felt another hand over the back of her palm. She shook her hand and held it close to her. "V-Viola?" she said in a surprised tone. Her hand twitched upon her own grasp and the now cooling air gave her hand a slight painful sting.
"Natsuki… are you…?"
Loud thunder echoed the skies and immediately the crimson-eyed actress widen her eyes, surprised to hear a loud thunder. Forgetting her question to her fiancée, she immediately closed her eyes when she saw a lightning up in the sky and was about to cover her ears with her hands when she felt a pair of hands cover her ears and pulled her close.
"You really are a pain you know that Viola. Tsk, go back inside if you don't want to hear another thunder." A husky voiced Natsuki said. Her breathing is rather fast and her hands gently but surely covered Shizuru's ears to muffle the thunder sound.
Another thunder roared the sky and Shizuru squeaked as she cling herself closer to Natsuki. Her body shook in fear when the sky was now dark grey and both lightning and thunder echoed. "Ahh!" her startled shout was muffled by Natsuki's clothes. She felt herself getting weak and fainting by the second.
"Tsch…"
In an immediate sweep, the brown-haired woman felt herself light on her feet and her whole body being lifted up in a bridal style carry. Strong arms held her securely and close to a thick scented fragrance that gave Shizuru a calming effect. She inhaled deeply and savored the scent as she feels her body being carried back inside the restaurant via employee entrance.
The employees, as well as Mai, were surprised when Natsuki barged inside their kitchen with a trembling actress in her arms. The blunette's brows were furrowed and she barked at all who blocked her path. "Fuck! Get out of my way! Mai I'll take her to your office!" Natsuki shouted as she hurriedly went to the red door room with Mai following behind her and lay the weaken actress to the sofa.
"What happened Natsuki?" Mai asked in concern. She looked at the pale Shizuru and the now paling Natsuki with both concern and curiosity.
Wiping the cold sweat away from Shizuru's forehead, Natsuki sighed in relief when she can see the trembling slowly dying down. "Astraphobia… this Kyoto-ben has Astraphobia." Natsuki said to her friend. She gave Mai a worried look and a soft smile. "Can you get me a cup of tea for her to calm down? And tell…" she paused and looked at the now calmly sleeping Shizuru. "Tell Kanzaki that Shizuru's in a dire mood to continue their lunch date." She asked her busty friend.
Mai nodded her head and went out of her office. Natsuki heard her telling the whole staffs not tell a single thing about what happened to anyone, especially Nina. A sigh of relief echoed the office as the young corporate president gently stokes Shizuru's hair.
"You never change. Still afraid of thunder and here I am still hoping to ease your fear. Like in the past eight years."
"Kanzaki-san, I believe Shizuru is rather, down due to the weather. My friend escorted her to their home and was asked for your forgiveness in not finishing your date with her." Mai said to Reito who continue to smile at her. She can feel that even if the guy was smiling, he was projecting some ominous aura. Mentally thanking her ability to suppress her fear due to a certain short-tempered that gave her so much to fear during her college days.
Smiling at the chef, Reito nodded his head and thanked Mai for informing him. However, he still feels quite agitated in talking with the person whom his little sister is having a crush. He stood up in a gentleman manner and handed his payment to the owner before leaving.
Mai sighed in relief that she didn't have to participate in a verbal argument with the actor. She dislikes the guy for being such a homophobic brother to her best staff and that just pisses her off.
"Auntie Mai where's papa?" Nina asked cutely as she tugged Mai's apron.
The chef bent down to Nina's level and smiled at the child with a slight ruffling of Nina's hair. "Natsuki's kinda busy. Is there something you need?"
Nina nodded her head and happily pointed at Sun who was now standing behind her. She showed Mai a wide smile to express her now giddy feeling. "Mommy said she wants me to spend the night with her. I was looking for papa to ask permission." She informed the smiling chef happily.
"Oh then go with Sun. I will tell Natsuki about it okay? Now take care and don't cause Sun any problems." Mai told Nina as she continues patting the child on the head. She stood up and gave the songstress a knowing look. "Take good care of her okay Sun? We don't want Natsuki causing another controversial issue." She said in a weary tone and a weak smile.
The songstress nodded her head and gave Mai a sweet smile before walking towards Nina and holding the child's hand. immediately, she felt the gentle grip of the child, indicating that they are good to go. "Well Mai-san, I'll be kidnapping my sweet Nina until tomorrow. Please tell Natsuki that Nao called, informing her that Nina is needed to attend school since her teachers is looking for her."
"Sure thing. Now you guys go now and I'll be back to my kitchen."
They all went to their own ways. Nina and Sun called for a taxi and went to Sun's hotel. Mai went back to the kitchen where an energetic Mikoto was eating a bowl of ramen on top of the table, waiting for Mai to return.
The feral-looking staff looked up to Mai and placed the bowl on the table. With a swift movement, Mikoto is now clamped around Mai's back like a sloth clinging to her mother. "Mai~ what took you so long? Natsuki already left. She said that we should keep Shizuru inside your office until the rain dies down." Mikoto said while happily nuzzling her head at Mai's neck like a cat.
The orange haired chef chuckled when she felt the spiky hair of her staff. With a quick pat and the usual effort of trying to get the staff down from her back, which was another loss for her since the cat-girl was clinging to her like glue. "Mikoto did Natsuki said where she's going?" she asked the feisty girl.
The dark-haired staff removed her left hand from its ghold and placed a finger over her chin. She blinked a few times, remembering what Natsuki had said where she would be going. A few seconds of thining, Mikoto's hand went back to clasping back to Mai and she hung her head at Mai's shoulder. "Natsuki said she'll be going home and drink."
Mai sighed. She knew her friend only drinks when she's having a depressing problem. She knew Natsuki since college but not once did Natsuki mention anything concerning her depressed dilemma. 'She always conceals her past. Even Chie can't get hold of Natsuki's whole information.' A sigh escaped her lips as she stopped thinking about Natsuki's personal life. Without any effort, she went back to her office to see Natsuki's fiancée but to her surprise, the room was now empty and a letter saying 'Thanks but I have to go now' on top of the table gave her a headache. "Natsuki will kill me…"
The sound of glass echoed the empty living room as a certain blunette was drinking alone and looking at the pictures from her laptop. Pictures of her and a certain red-eyed kid. Her eyes closed as she hears the deafening silence of the living room. A lone tear escaped her closed eyes as she remembered her past.
'Darkness filled the space and sounds of roaring engines aswell as the whipping echoes of air. Then a crash, a very powerful crash.'
'Clear the area! Call the Ambulance!'
'Kyoto-ben? Kyoto-ben!'
'No answer. Her body ached but she ignored it, she tried to stand up but a man was trying to stop her movements. She felt both pain and liquid to her skin.'
'Fuck off! I need to see her!'
'Her yell was meaningless, the man kept her on the ground until she heard sirens.'
'Listen kid, your friend is unconscious but will be fine. You are more severe than she is so shut up and behave.'
'flash of white'
'Kyoto-ben!Kyoto-ben wake up!'
'Natsuki don't worry, she'll be okay.'
'No! I should be worried! It's my fault!'
'Her arms were being held back by strong arms and a blond girl was pushing her away from the white door.'
'Nee-chan you need your own treatment. Your blood is pouring all over the place!''The blond spoke. She was holding her back, preventing her sister from running with a deep, bloody body.'
'Strong hands still clasped to her arms, pulled her close to the well chiseled chest of a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes. The man hugged her close, not minding the blood soaking his formal attire.'
'Listen to your sister cub! They will make sure nothing will happened and you know her family will not let anything happened. As you father, I should do the same to you.'
'She can hear the man's worried voice and only whispered an apology before giving in to her own darkened vision and into the arms of the man.'
'Light graced her vision and the color of white and the smell of medicines dominated the room. She can hear other occupants of the room and what she heard shocked her right up.'
'I demand to know what the hell did you just say Alyssa! Is it true that her parents took her to America?'
'Nee-chan, father said that she require more medical attention. Her grandfather took her away, saying you are a bad influence on her and her parents can't do anything about it.'
'She clenched her fists and felt a pain surge throughout her body. Emerald orbs looked at herself and found white bandages wrapped around her abdomen, arms and hands.'
'Kyoto-ben… I must go there now!'
'She tried to struggle away and the man who occupied the room as well stood up and push her back down to bed. The blue eyes of the man showed anger and sadness at the same time. She glared back and snarled at the man but her actions were mere cries to the man.'
'You will not do such things cub. Jiro will not tolerate your actions, let alone what happened to her grand daughter. My father also wishes for your complete and loyal participation in our company since you are old enough to learn it.'
'Granpa Leo suggested to Jiro-jiji that if you succeeded in owning and running the Searrs business, you can openly date his granddaughter. Jiro-jiji agreed that time but now... Jiro-jiji blames you for everything.'
'The blond silently looked sad at her who was covered with bandages. She growled and forced herself to relax so that her father would let her go. She realized her actions she had committed, silently acknowledges her state of condition and let tears flowed openly from her eyes.
'A Kruger will do everything for their loved ones, just like the Searrs.'
A pathetic and drunken chuckle escaped the drunken Kruger's lips and tears fell from her emerald colored eyes. She raised her glass of vodka in front of the screen.
"Cheers for you Kyoto-ben. You are indeed well without me." She said pathetically to the screen. Drinking the remaining contents of the glass, she unconsciously gripped her glass tighter with her left hand and broke it. Blood dripped out from the rips that the glass shards created on her leather glove.
Blood dripped onto the carpet and in her state, it didn't took another minute for her to pass out due to blood loss and being drunk. Yet before her eyes cave in to the looming darkness, the color of crimson around the darkness filled her vision and her lips slowly formed a smile. "Still beautiful." She whispered, giving in to the darkness.
"Natsuki!"
A few minutes ago…
Rain still poured like the raging water of a creek yet as if it was nothing to a certain crimson-eyed Viola. The actress, fearing thunder, had muffled the thunderous sound with a black, thick headsets which emitted songs from her ipod. As she made her way inside the dark house, she noticed that a small light from the living area was open and a certain lump of shadow is slump down on the carpeted floor. She smelled the aroma of alcohol gave her the idea of her housemate being drunk. Walking towards the source of everything, she gasp when the sight of blood and now-fainting blunette was before her eyes. She hurriedly knelt down, making sure no glass was near her. She scanned her so-called fiancée and her breath hitched upon seeing the mysterious left hand's condition.
"Natsuki!".
She was going to take the blunette on her arms when she heard Natsuki, fainltly spoke out "Still beautiful" in a delirious manner. Her face could not stop from blushing and her heart pounding hard as the mere words that escaped Natsuki's mouth caused her those reactions. She shook her head, lifted the younger woman, and put her onto the couch. "Wait for me Natsuki, I'll just get something for that." She said knowing that the person she is speaking to won't respond.
'She's diagnosed with-'
'I Don't want to hear about it! All I care is that I want to see her!'
'Even if you do, what will you say? Listen to me Natsuki, it has been two years! Don't you think something might already happened, like, I dunnno, she would come back if the two of your are really meant to be?'
'But mom!'
'No buts! Her father called and said she's doing fine, learning under her grandfather's ways as you should also, add up your studies that is.'
'A bright flash'
'Now we're back! As news on showbiz, famous Kyoto actress is now in a relationship-'
'Sound of T.V being turned off.'
'Figures… It has been six years anyway… I wish you the best Kyoto-ben'
The blunette stirred from her unconscious state and found herself laying down on the couch. Her hand felt numb so she looked at it and saw her leather glove was now replaced by white bandages. She was both surprised and confused. She sat up and looked around. It was still dark and the roaring fire from the fireplace illuminated the whole living room. She saw her ring on the coffee table near the small first aid box.
"You shouldn't move your hand too much Nastuki." A sweet Kyoto-accented voice echoed the room.
Natsuki scowled as she saw the brunette actress walking towards her, carrying a bowl of something steaming. She took a quick whiff and immediately smelled the thick smell of noodles.
"You should eat. You haven't eaten any dinner yet." The brunette happily suggested, placing the bowl on top of the coffee table. Opting to sit beside the injured blunette, she worriedly looked at the injured hand of Nastuki. "Natsuki-"
"I got it from an accident." Natsuki cut her fiancée off. She knew that Shizuru was going to ask about her hand.
Shizuru nodded her head and leaned back to the couch. Seeing Natsuki's bloodied hand gave her a fright more than her fear of thunder.
Natsuki kept silent. Her heart was slowly pounding fast as she realize that the brunette had probably saw her left hand. She was unaware that she hand placed her right hand over her left and gripped it gently. Then she remembered her dream and what she reminisced a while ago. "Viola I-"
"Don't worry Natsuki, I won't force you to tell me but I just want to ask, how long have you got that?" the brunette pointed Natsuki's left hand. Her voice was somewhat unsure as if she doesn't want to know but have to know.
Natsuki sighed and raised her hand to her eye level. Her emerald orbs glared at the bandaged hand. "Eight years…"
The actress nodded her head and looked up to he ceiling which reflects the roaring fire of the fireplace. "I see. Maybe one day you can tell me about it. I'll be glad to take away some of your burden, Natsuki."
As if on cue, Natsuki scoff off Shizuru's offered help like she had expected it. "Don't bet on it Viola, the longer you shouldn't know about it, the better. You shouldn't dwell much on the past since nothing good will happened." Her voice was rather sad than insulting.
"Ara~ But I treasure the past Natsuki, since I myself have a hole in my life which until now I can't fill."
Hearing this made Nastuki quite surprised. Her eyes wide open and cold sweat formed on her forehead. "You-" her words were cut off by Shizuru's facade smile.
A/N: yeah i know it's a cliffy i'm sorry but am running out of ideas already. i gave enough hints for 1 + 1 to be put together but am planning to add up something different than what you guys expect... so until then, i hope you guys won't get angry at me or hunt me down,,, d(^-^)b i'll try to update ASAP... your reviews and suggestions are very welcome...
