CHAPTER THIRTEEN – A MEETING WITH THE PAST
"So you guys are pretty intent on meeting, then?" smirked Ginji.
"Yes, we are. She's coming to Shinjuku this Sunday"
"Let's see," remarked Paul, "Today's Thursday. Have you got a green shirt?"
"Yes, I do. A pretty charming one too"
"Charming, enough to attract Mademoiselle Kumiko?" Hevn articulated.
"Speak, Monsieur Mido," added Ginji.
"What's with this Mademoiselle, Monsieur thing?" said Ban looking surprised.
"They recently saw a French movie together," whispered Paul and Ban nodded.
"But," Ban whispered back, "Does he understand French?"
"I heard that Ban," interjected Ginji, "I learnt French because I have to keep going to France for my musical tours."
"I see," said Ban looking at his watch, "Ok, guys, I think I better leave or I'll be late for my rendezvous"
"Sure thing, there isn't much time left for 9:30," replied Paul, "Go quick, or your Kumiko will throttle us for making you late by the quarter of a second."
"Yes, I'm leaving. Oh yeah, add that coffee to my tab"
"Yes, indeed," sighed Paul after Ban left, "I had thought he'd improve after getting rich, but he hasn't changed his habits one bit"
"I'm wondering," said Hevn suddenly, "This Kumiko female has usurped our friend's mind, body and soul"
"This may be his true love," said Ginji hopefully.
"Over the Internet? I don't think so. I'm being forced to believe that this girl is going to upset him"
"Why do you feel that way?"
"I don't know, maybe it's because I've been friends with Ban for so long. I'll feel terrible if any girl breaks his heart once again"
"Do you think that it was Natsumi's fault when she broke up with Ban?"
"I'm not taking any sides, but…"
"Ah, I understand," said Ginji comfortingly, "They're both your friends and you don't want to accuse them of having been the reason the relationship soured"
"Exactly"
"Don't worry," said Paul reassuringly, "On the contrary, I have a bright feeling about this thing. I think it's going to work out"
"It better work"
Meanwhile as each day passed, Ban was getting more and more excited and a little –
"Scared, I admit I'm really scared," said Ban on the phone to Ginji as he walked towards Morimoto's café, the place where he had decided to meet Kumiko.
"Don't be afraid. Be a man," came Ginji's advice, "Hevn and I'll be reaching there within fifteen minutes. I guess you guys will settle down until then"
"I guess," said Ban still looking scared, "What if she doesn't turn up?"
"She told you right, that she's in Shinjuku?"
"Yes, but…"
"Look, you don't get frightened even while battling with Dr. Jackal. Then what could a girl possibly do to you?"
"What if she rejects me because of my looks?"
"Impossible! You're one amongst the most eligible bachelors of Tokyo"
"Yeah, but that must be because of my money"
"Oh yeah, Girls swoon over you just cause you carry cash along with you?"
"I don't carry cash, I use credit cards. Though I do carry a negligible amount of cash, yes"
"Oh shut up, where are you right now?"
"I'm standing outside the café"
"Don't just stand there! But you are early"
"So what? You want me to stand there with a garland to welcome her?"
"Ok, do as you like. Don't worry and stay calm. We'll be reaching there shortly."
"Thanks for all the love and support, Ginji. I'll keep that in mind"
"Ok, whatever. Bye"
"What's the matter?" asked Hevn who was standing nearby.
"He sounded like he's dying," replied a confused looking Ginji, "Anyway, get ready. We got to leave soon"
"Yeah"
At Morimoto's –
"Oh, boy," thought Ban entering inside, "I've never really bothered to come here before. I'm so used to going to Honky Tonk. But hey, why didn't we decide to meet at Honky Tonk? Must be because there's a lot more privacy here. Over there we'd be around the prying eyes of Paul Wan"
He looked around for a comfortable and private seat where there were less chances of being disturbed. At first he thought he might not be noticed. But his bright green shirt solved all problems. Now all he had to look for was a woman wearing purple.
Their meeting was to be at 4 pm. But he'd reached there at 3:30 itself. After waiting for what seemed like the quarter of an hour, he received a text message that read –
'We are hiding at a spot outside Morimoto's from where we can see you clearly and we'll also be able to see your girl.'
G and H
Ban shook his head disbelievingly and typed a message.
'You idiots could've even taken a seat here itself right? Why do you always have to behave this dumb? I'm sure the bimbo put you up to this.
Then came a reply –
'Sorry, we just didn't think of that before. We're coming in.'
They both entered the café stealthily and took a seat from where they could see and hear Ban (as long as the tone was normal) and manage to remain hidden as well so that none of Ginji's fans would find him here. But Ban couldn't see them too well from there.
As the hands of the clock seemed to go slower, Ban drank glass after glass of water while reading the newspaper. He then turned to order what happened to be his tenth glass of water as the door opened. But Ban in his nervousness didn't hear it.
Ginji and Hevn turned to look who had arrived. To their greatest surprise it was Natsumi. At first they tried to convince themselves by saying it was a mere co-incidence that she happened to be here. But when they saw her wearing a purple dress, their fears were confirmed.
Natsumi immediately saw them and went to their table –
"Hi Hevn, hi Ginji," she glowed with joy, "It's so good to see you both after so long!"
"We're extremely happy too," smiled Hevn though inwardly she was worried about the scene that was just going to take place, "Oh, Natsumi," she said and embraced her while Ginji merely grinned and shook hands.
"How come you two are here?" Natsumi looked surprised, "Don't tell me, are you two married? You might've even had children by now"
"Oh, no it's not what you think," blushed Hevn, "We're only engaged"
"I see, even that's cool! How long are you people here?"
"Why do you ask?" said Ginji.
"No, because I actually came to meet someone else here," said Natsumi turning red, "I'll tell you the complete story later. I'm running a little late for my appointment, so I'll catch you later. Your address is still the same right?"
"Yes, it is," replied Hevn.
"So in case you guys, leave, I can meet you there."
"Actually," smiled Ginji, "When we leave, we'll simply come up to your table and inform you. Is that ok? Though we may be disturbing your appointment"
"It's perfectly fine," said Natsumi, "I might even get the opportunity to introduce you to my friend"
Yes, we'd love that. Go now, or your friend will be mad at us for holding you back."
"Sure"
Natsumi went away and Hevn put her hands to her head.
"I have a miserable feeling about this," she wailed.
"You can say that again," said Ginji putting on his dark expression.
Natsumi searched around for a person wearing a green shirt and finally came to Ban's table. He had gelled his hair so that it would stay down and even removed his purple sunglasses so that 'Kumiko' wouldn't have a bad impression about him. Right now, the newspaper he was reading covered his face.
"Excuse me," said Natsumi, "But are you Wild Fantasy?"
Ban put his newspaper aside and looked at her. Natsumi's previous expression was curiosity but now her face looked livid with terror and anger.
"You!" she shrieked.
"You!" Ban shrieked too.
The entire café was looking at them. They kept staring at each other this way for so long that everyone thought they had surely gone nuts and they turned their gaze away from them. Ginji and Hevn leaned forward.
"There's definitely been a mistake," said Natsumi avoiding Ban's eyes, "I'm sure I've come to the wrong table"
"Oh, you haven't, Neko-chan," hissed Ban.
"Oh, no," moaned Natsumi, "Please, tell me it's a dream!"
"I'm sorry, it's not"
"So, when did you change your name to Kazuki, eh?" said Natsumi raising her eyebrows.
"The day you changed yours to Kumiko," Ban replied coldly.
"Oh, hilarious. How many lies have you told me, then?"
"I haven't lied, but I guess you have"
"Manga artist…seems unlikely"
"A lot of things seem unlikely to you, Miss Natsumi, but the truth is you never believe in giving people chances, do you?"
"It's not that I don't give people chances, but I must have some amount of confidence in the person to do so"
"Oh, so you mean to say, you had absolutely no confidence in me when you ditched me ten years ago?"
"On the contrary, I did," said Natsumi a tear rolling down her cheek, "I only did that, so you would get serious about getting a job"
"Excellent," guffawed Ban, "You're trying to tell me, I wouldn't get serious about life if you hadn't left me"
Just then one of the waiters came up to their table –
"Sir, Ma'am, would you like to order something?"
"Just leave us alone, can't you see we're busy?" yelled Ban so loudly that the waiter almost toppled over.
"Why are you removing your anger on him?" said a tearful Natsumi, "We'll call you when we need something," she said kindly to the waiter while Ban turned away his face angrily.
"Stop showing off in front of me, now," said Natsumi smiling a little, "I can see you haven't changed one bit"
"Thanks," said Ban even more coldly, "Was that a compliment or an insult?"
"Ban, please," said Natsumi as tears welled up in her eyes once again, "Stop it. I'm meeting you after so many years and you're behaving this way with me?"
"Ok, that's it," said Ban, "I can't see you cry any longer, I feel like I committed a murder. I'm sorry, Nat"
"It's alright," murmured Natsumi, "So how are you and how's life?"
"Do you seriously need to ask me that?" said Ban giving her a roguish wink, "You already know everything about it's current state, Kumiko"
"Oh, yes, I do," laughed Natsumi.
"Hey, they're smiling and laughing," whispered Ginji and Hevn nodded.
"I hope it turns out well," thought Hevn.
"So, Ban," said Natsumi after a long time, "What if I was Kumiko and not Natsumi?"
"Then, I wouldn't be here speaking to you at all," said Ban wisely, "I only stayed in touch with you for so long because I loved you. If you were Kumiko, I would never have fallen in love with you. My heart belongs to Natsumi and Natsumi alone"
"Oh, Ban," blushed Natsumi and rushed over to hug him, "You don't know how much I've suffered these ten years"
"You think I was having fun all along?" joked Ban hugging her tightly.
"Come on, don't be such a prat," she said breaking apart, "So does this hug officially state the beginning of our relationship?"
"You mean, regeneration."
"Kinda, yes"
"Sure thing. I don't think I wanted to spend my life with any other girl"
"I too want to live with you all my life"
"Deal, then"
"Deal!"
"Yay!!" exclaimed Ginji and Hevn joyously, "Ban and Nat are getting married"
"Oh, you guys, stop embarrassing me," blushed Natsumi, "No wonder you two are here. I should have understood earlier that Kazuki was none other than Ban"
"Well, Ban told us to be here because he was really nervous about meeting you"
"Really Ban?" she asked her eyes widening.
"Well," stammered Ban, "A little"
"Oh, stop lying," said Hevn playfully.
"Fine, I was really nervous," confessed Ban, "But, tell me, were you nervous?"
"Obviously, I was, silly," started Natsumi, "I was going to meet an unknown, faceless stranger, wasn't I? But I'm very happy that this unknown stranger happened to be my sweetheart Ban"
"Natsumi," said Ginji uneasily, "We're still here. You're getting a little personal, aren't you?"
"I don't care, I've held myself back for too many years now. Let me look at him enough to flood my eyesight with his face."
"Oh my God, Natsumi," exclaimed Hevn, "You sound starved"
"Maybe she does," said Ban slowly, "But so am I," saying this he hugged her once again.
Just then, everyone in the café started wolf whistling and clapping. They had heard the entire conversation. Ban and Natsumi shone with the happiness of meeting each other after so long. The waiter who had come to take their order earlier had tears of joy flowing out of his eyes. Then they kissed.
"Oh, my mind is at peace once again," whispered Natsumi, "Now that I'm with you. I never want to leave you again"
"Me neither," muttered Ban running his hand through her hair, "To tell you something funny, you've started to look much more beautiful with age."
"Oh, you'll just never change."
"Neither will you"
"Oh, Ban"