Chapter 21
Len kept his eyes at her. A feeling of rejection started to bother him. The way she doesn't respond to his call and the look in his eyes smothered the hopes inside him. "Kahoko…" he mumbled.
Kahoko pushed his hand away. She stood up from her seat and strode some distance away from him. Eyes remained averted. "Why?"
"What do you mean?" he replied.
Kahoko shook her head, confused. "Why do you have to make everything difficult? Why are you here? Why do you keep on following me?"
"I—"
"Please leave," Kahoko said, a sense of finality in her tone. "Please leave me alone. I don't want to see you anymore. Everything about us is finished." She turned around, grabbing her bag.
Len stood up, attempting to follow her.
"Kahoko—" another voice trailed off, stopping Len from his track.
"Is something the matter?" Kaji muttered, concerned. He held Kahoko's wrist and tugged her closer to him. Obvious worry grazed in his eyes. "Are you—" he thinned his lips, noticing that they were not the only people there. His eyes turned rigid, fists clenched, in some extent, hurting Kahoko's wrist unintentionally.
"Aoi-kun…"
Kaji looked back, hurriedly releasing her hand. "I'm sorry." He stuttered. "Let's go. I'll take you home." He continued as he held her body closer to him.
Len looked as the woman disappeared from his sight. He grunted, annoyed to say the least. He wasn't able to voice himself. Nonetheless, what was he supposed to say? Looking at the woman in the arms of another man made him weak. He felt that he could not do anything, as her choicewas more powerful.
Weak. He became appalled at himself.
~NeKo Meow~
"Len." Mr. Tsukimori paused, bringing his hand on the table, clasped at one another. His eyes fixed at his son.
Len simply bobbed his head in acknowledgement. He strolled forward to look at him clearly. "Is there anything you want to instruct to me?"
Mr. Tsukimori thinned his lips, his forehead furrowed but the indication of annoyance was absent. He sighed. "About the contract, have you made up your mind?" he muttered nonchalantly.
A moment of silence followed before Len was able to respond back. He took a deep inhale. "Give me more time to decide." His voice left his lips softly.
Len mentally shook his head. The only person who prevented him from signing the paper was the redhead, even though she was one of those who coaxed him to do grab every opportunity coming.
It had been weeks since he last saw the woman. The spark of hope she left subsequently to the party at Sasaki's resident gone in thin air after their knotty parting at the Seiso. He never had the chance to talk to her neither see her even once. The fact simply gave him a notion to give up. It was as if she really had enough of him.
Anyway, she was only concerned of his sake and nothing more. The belief of she, harboring such emotion towards him was rapidly turning puny in his view. At any rate, he was not quite sure about that fact in the first place. There must be some instances that he could see her emotion; swirling with passion, nonetheless, was that even true? Has he mistaken her efforts?
All she wanted to do, even in the first place, was to help him get what he wanted. Was that really is? For all of those times, she only wanted to help this brat to get something he wanted.
Thinking about the newly formed notion in his head it appeared it would cause some major changes on his decision.
How he hoped this decision is right.
~NeKo Meow~
Three more days passed. Len Tsukimori was sitting on his office chair; a pen occupied his right hand while the other, a paper. It seemed he was in the verge of signing or not signing it.
A loud knock from the door hauled him from his deep thoughts. "Tsukimori, my dear cousin. Are you going to sulk in your office all day or do you wanted to come with us and have fun?"
"None of the above." Len glared. He placed the pen on the table together with the papers.
"Come on, it's Tsubaki's bachelor party. Wanna come?" Ryoutarou approached his cousin, placing his hand above the table. "What do we have here?" he queried, reading the words inscribed on the top paper.
"Please don't waste my time." Len icily responded. His hand covered the neatly placed paper on the table for his cousin not to see.
Ryoutarou grunted, scratching the nape of his neck. "Still unsure?" he smirked.
"I know what I am doing. Mind you, but I'm on my way of signing this when you interrupted me."
"Really?" Ryoutarou's brow rose in mock. "Then why don't you sign it. Is it that hard to do it? Or do I need to turn around. Probably you're getting a bit shy. Ok cousin. I won't look."
"Would you stop that! I will sign this after you leave. Obviously, you're disturbing me."
"So it is. I doubt that you are annoyed with me for disturbing you. It is more acceptable to say that you owe me for disturbing you so that you won't be able to commit the greatest mistake of your life. Well, maybe not the greatest but you'll go there too." Ryoutarou shrugged the latter.
Len sharp gaze never faltered the lad. Ryoutarou crooked his lips upward, forming a grin on his face.
"I said maybe." Ryoutarou chuckled.
"Leave."
"Anyhow, like I said earlier, I'm here to invite you for the later party."
"Leave…"
"Oh, come on, cousin! Have fun at times. We'll be waiting for you. Oh! Wait, I'll just ride with you. My car is not in a good state right now. There are some repairs to do. Did you know how it cost—"
"Tsuchiura, leave!"
That was his last call before he stood up. Nevertheless, before Len was able to confront his cousin, Ryoutarou strode a big distance from his position, routing the door. "See you later cousin." He waved.
Len muttered an incoherent cuss before collapsing on his chair. His left hand dangling lazily at the side, while the other massaging his temples.
That cousin of him never fails to give him headaches.
His eyes caught a glimpse of the papers, as if it were trying to entice him, waiting for him to sign it. Len grabbed an ample of it, rereading it for countless of time.
Would this benefit him? Of course, a lot of it. His other mind claimed. If he chose to sign the papers, the entire thing he wanted would be his. It might not be in a whole but the success would still be surely in his hand. This is what she wanted anyway. His mind persuaded. To grab the opportunity for you to be able to get what you want. The seeming voice in his head spoke sugary words.
How he hated sweet things but this one was different. It was like a drug consuming his mind. He could not resist; at least for now in his uncertainty.
It gave him a misleading feeling that it was his only solution to avoid emotional problem, completely. In addition, what he just needed to do is to sign it.
Len heaved a deep inhale. Closing his eyes to think again, however it remained that way. He was resolute. Len grabbed the pen at the side. "This is what I want in the first place." I already started this, why should I waste the long years of waiting. Len sighed.
With a slow stroke of the pen as the black ink tainted the white space in the paper, Len was able to make his decision. A contract that once he entered, exiting would be a problem.
~NeKo Meow~
"Cousin, isn't it nice to have some quality time with your friends." Ryoutarou muttered, unintentionally choking his cousin while placing his arm around his neck.
Len coughed, pushing him away.
"Sorry. It's all my workout's fault. You should try it sometimes." Ryoutarou boasted, doing some bodybuilding pose.
"So that, I'll be able to choke you as well?" Len didn't intend to joke yet his words created humor, the other men laughed. "I'll think about that."
"Len, Ryoutarou, glad that you're here. Tsubaki's still in the office but he'll be here soon. Definitely he'll be here." A man approached the two with a smile. Ryoutarou smiled back while Len only did nod.
"We will have fun! Men's night."
The party began not long after when the star of the night came. He was in his late twenties, years older than Len and Ryoutarou. His face a bit matured nonetheless the trace of handsomeness still visible, very visible.
As said beforehand, the party had a blast. Too much for Len though.
They had many beverages available. Unfortunately, for Len, he was the center of their mischief, giving all the heavy alcohol to him.
"Oi, cousin, are you sure you can go home by yourself?" Ryoutarou asked, concerned. Looking how his cousin walked wobbly.
Len did not say a word, simply held his hand high giving him thumb up.
Sadly speaking, he was not on the right state of mind to go home. Ryoutarou strode towards him, attempting to persuade him to stay a bit longer until he was sober enough to go home.
Len glanced over his shoulder. "It'sh fine…I habb to go shomewhere…" he muttered.
"And where is that somewhere?" Ryoutarou raised his right brow.
"Shomewhere…theresh…leabb me alone, Tsu-Tsi-Tsuchu. Leave me alone." He ended his word, as he could not pronounce his cousin's surname.
He turned around, calling for a taxi.
"Oi, cousin, you forgot your car!" Ryoutarou followed.
"You can have it." He hiccupped, getting inside the taxi. As if, he could give it right away if he was sober. He was not renowned to be generous with his things. You have to get it by blood.
Ryoutarou looked, dumbfounded, as the taxi swept away. It was already too late for him to realize that he just let his drunken cousin wander by himself. This is trouble. He hit his head by his hand.
"So, Mister, we've been circling this area for so long. Where do you want to go?" the taxi driver scratched the back of his head, trying to control his temper.
Len glanced outside, hiccups leaving his throat. "EH! WHERE AM I?" he muttered, incomprehensible.
~NeKo Meow~
Kahoko was sitting on her chair while making her lesson plan for the next days. Her desk filled with papers doodled in different way—probably some quizzes and assignments of her students.
It was quite past her bedtime but she insisted of finishing her work before going to sleep. It was more convenient that way.
A loud ring disturbed her. Kahoko glanced somewhere, thinking it must be Nami's phone. She must have left it earlier. She thought.
It stopped ringing and Kahoko sustained her work. Nonetheless, the same ringtone echoed in the place. Kahoko halted from her works. That tone. The tone was very near Kahoko could hear it clearly. There was no way, that it could be Nami's.
Kahoko turned around and stood up. The sound grew louder in her every step. She stopped just about her bag. That tone. She repeated, shaky hand opening her bag.
"I made this for you…this is the emergency calling card.You can contact me immediately with this number. It's for emergency purposes though. Don't use it often."
"Huh? Are you kidding me?"
"Mean!"
"I did not say I don't want it….I might need this to contact you…"
"H-hello?" her word shaky on her lips.
"Hello, sorry for this sudden call, ma'am. But we just want to clarify if you know any Tsukimori Len."
Her heart quickened. The cold night air cascaded on her, making tendrils of Goosebumps to run on her skin. "Y-Yes, is something happened to him?" Please no.
"Nothing serious, ma'am, but he's in our office now. The Shigawa Police station."
"WHAT!" her voice raised some octave. She collected herself before mumbling an apology from her outburst. "I'll be there. Thank you." She hung up afterwards.
Donning in her warm suit, Kahoko went out to fetch her ex-husband. Why did they have to meet in awkward situations?
The fact of why he was there remained unknown to her. She was not able to ask for the problem as the anxiety overwhelmed her.
Running in the middle of the night, Kahoko whispered a small prayer, saying please be ok repeatedly.
"I'm looking for—" she closed her mouth. "Len!"
The drunken man looked at her.
"Ma'am, do you know who he is?" the police began.
"Yes, yes…" she panted, out of breath from running. She approached Len and the man hurriedly leaned towards her side. "Did he trouble you?" Kahoko asked, noting that the blue head was not himself.
"Not really us ma'am. But this driver here." The police pointed at the old man at the side. "They've been circling the whole city of Tokyo without a definite route."
"Oh," was all that Kahoko could only produce. She looked at the man at her side. A sigh left her lips, relieved. "I'm so sorry for the trouble. I'll just pay for the damage."
"About the payment, he already paid him the sum amount of his travel."
"Oh! And what could be the problem then?"
The policed sighed. "The taxi driver here doesn't know where to drop him. That's why he decided to take this man here. We don't have any identification card from him. Moreover, even other cards. We believe that he left his wallet elsewhere, as well as his phone. Fortunately, he has some spare money in his pocket to pay for his toll and a weird looking calling card he gave us. Honestly speaking, we thought he was joking about this number but we could not do anything. This is the only card we could contact someone he know."
Kahoko simply laughed at his statement. Weird-looking calling card huh? She scoffed. "I see. I'll handle it now. Thank you for your concern Mr...?" Kahoko paused to ask the taxi driver's name.
The man, who looked like in his fifties, smiled at her. Some wrinkles lined on his face. "Minami, ma'am. And it is ok. To be honest, I would invite him to our little home if we hadn't contacted you." The old man chuckled.
"I see." I think it is much better that way. She mulled over. However, a part of her could not take to imagine it.
"Kahoko…let's go home."
Kahoko's heart thumped higher just by hearing his voice. She glanced at him, surprised.
Len didn't falter though, instead, his mischievous grin splayed on his lips. "Let's go home."
"W-what."
"Oh! Good, let me drop you in your home. It seems that you know each other very well."
If Kahoko was focusing on the old man, she could possibly see the sparkle in his eyes.
"S-sure." Kahoko responded, uncertain. Why did our lives cross paths again?
Their little travel was in awkward silence. Len finally had his sleep. Nonetheless, to Kahoko's dismay, he used her as his pillow again. Like before.
~NeKo Meow~
"Mistress…" Takumi muttered quite surprised. He was going to press for more questions but he realized that the woman needed some help. "My, my, what happened to him?"
"Ah—Takumi-san, can you help me." Kahoko struggled, balancing herself and the man leaning on her for support. "M-Mr. Tsukimori, would you walk on your own."
Len ignored her as he wrapped his arm around her.
"W-wait, Mr. Tsukimori, I need to go now." Kahoko panicked, squirming from his hold. She looked at Takumi for help but it seemed the man could not do anything as well.
Instead, Takumi averted his stare from them as he spoke. "I'll prepare some tea for him."
In the end, she was all alone, struggling to get to his room. "Mr. Tsukimori! Would you at least use your feet to walk. You're not that light you know."
Len grinned against her neck, making a bolt of electricity to flow on her spine. She froze. "Will you stop that as well?" She stuttered.
"First." He commenced yet he kept leaning on her. "Don't call me Mr. Tsukimori."
"Then, what honorific should I call my boss?" she asked, emphasizing that their current relationship is boss and employee. It was quite true as she works at Seiso in which he owns.
"Call me like what you usually call me."
"That's the past. I can't call you that—"
"Whenever you're calling me Mr. Tsukimori, it just reminded me of my father. It's like you're calling for my father and not me," he sulked, burrowing his face on her shoulder.
"Hey, hey! W-We're here already." Kahoko opened the door of his room. She freed herself from his hold until she was in front of the door again.
His arms sealed her from behind, burying his face in her strawberry coloured hair. "Stay…"
It sounded more like a plea.
Kahoko halted, as her eyes grew bigger. She was about to turn around when Takumi knocked on the door.
Without thinking twice, she pushed the man to open the door.
"Here's the tea. He'll be all right after he drank this." Takumi gave the tray to Kahoko as he bowed to take his leave.
Kahoko looked at the man, instructing him to stay on his bed. Fortunately, he did as he accepted the tea.
"Go take some rest. I'll be going now—"
"Do you really want to avoid me that much?" He began.
Kahoko thinned her lips. She placed her hands behind her back to hide her shaky hands. "Yes," she straightly muttered.
"You really don't have to do what my father asked you to."
"It is…" she opted to close her mouth as she waited for him to talk again.
"I've decided to distance from you as well."
Kahoko felt cold all of the sudden. Her knees unexpectedly turned weak, she kept standing, frozen on her position. Did he sign the papers?
"If that's what would make everything back to normal, I have to take the risk. It is my entire fault why you had been involved with my family. If I distance now, it would be much easier to adjust. Isn't it?"
Kahoko nodded, suddenly quiet.
"But isn't this quite disturbing? We have met again. How much we wanted to distance from each other it seems our lives cross paths even though we don't want to."
"L-len, you just need to take some rest. You're just—"
"Did you know that I recently made my decision? It was just this afternoon when I decided to stop pursuing you."
"Good, you really have to."
Len got up from the bed. He stood up, balancing himself at first before continuing on walking towards her. "To be honest, I really don't want to do this but it feels like that this is an obligation I need to partake. Tell me, do you really want this to happen as well? Don't think about what my father said." This is my last chance to know your true intention.
"Well…" she gulped. Does she really want him to go, be out of her reach? "Y-yes." She averted her eyes.
"Look at me."
"Please…I said yes. What do you want me to say?" she lowered her head, suddenly feeling interested with the floor.
Len moved closer, lifting his hand to trace the shape of her face.
With the contact, Kahoko impulsively looked back. Her eyes met cold golden ones as she felt lips pressed against her own.
She did not move, just simply feeling how soft and smooth his lips could be. His one arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer towards him. He raised his hand up to Kahoko's hair and tangled his fingers in it. He moved back but just to inhale some lost air, giving her as well to breathe.
Kahoko blinked, looking at his molten eyes. Her arms lying dormant at her side rose upward, resting against his strong chest. Len leaned closer, pressing small kisses on her lips one at a time. She reached for him, her arm clinging around his neck, somehow, taking his bait.
He grinned on her lips and deepened the kiss.
Desire kindled between them, as both lost in love and in the power of their passion. As though the world had stopped and time had frozen.
Len lifted her lightly—but never breaking the kiss—before walking back to his bed as he gently placed her there.
He placed his arms at her sides to support his weight. He looked at her, moving away from the warmth of her lips. Both took a deep inhale, eyes burning with passion.
Len leaned again, giving her a brief yet passionate kiss before tracing her jawline. He started to unbutton some of the buttons of her blouse as he moved from her jawline down to her throat, making a hitch in her breath.
Kahoko looked at him, emotion swirling in her eyes. She tried to tug his own shirt, seeking the feel of his chest. Len glanced back at her, his grin forming into a smile. He moved his lips on hers, feeling the lost warmth.
He broke the kiss yet again, resting his forehead against her. They caressed one another. Just this time…and probably the last time. Please…His eyes unguarded, freely expressing his feelings. "Be mine."
Anonymous Review:
LOL: haha, thanks. Glad that you like the classroom scene
Jamila: Thank you as well for always supporting my stories. :)
Charlie 3 Candy Girl: I see, though I know this is kind of late but after I read your review, I wish you that time that you feel better. Anyway, i think I'm too late already for that.:D
Himitsu: thanks. haha, it's one my favorite line as well. I can imagine Tsuki saying that. (It's a bit out of character in his part but amusing in my opinion.)
CWYSTOPHER: Thanks
LenKaho3110: ah, I see. To make it advance, I wish you good luck with your future recital. I'm always late in responding. And it's ok. :)
CREESTAL: lol, thanks.