Soichi chapter 25

Soichi has spent the past two weeks getting ready for the competitions. He spends most of his time either at school or in the studio. I on the other hand, have a few of my own projects to attend to.

One morning…

As I leave my room to go for an early morning skate, I expect Soichi to pop up as per usual but he's not there. I decide that I have a few minutes to spare and I go take a look in the studio.

I go try the door but realize it's locked. Typical Soichi. Whenever he doesn't want to be disturbed, he locks the door. Lucky for me, I mastered the lock-picking spell last week, with the help of Chihiro of course. I snap my fingers and the door slowly creaks open.

Really, Kazuto? I told you last week that the door needed to be oiled. I thought his job was to maintain the house and keep it in tip-top condition.

I creep over to the snoozing Soichi and I can hear him breathing. I can't help but notice how defenseless he looks. Cute. I also notice that his hair is messy and he hasn't shaved in a few days. I love the way the stubble looks on his perfectly sculpted jaw line.

"Soichi? Soichi, you need to get up…" I begin softly. He doesn't budge so I shake his shoulder. "Soichi, come on, you need to get up. You will be late for class…"

"…Nng… I didn't know you could be so soft and kind sounding. Usually there is an edge in your voice…" he says jokingly and smiles softly. "Morning."

I let out a small laugh and return his smile. He is the only one who can make me smile. "Morning. You been working all night?"

"Yeah. I don't even remember feeling tired, let alone going to sleep. I was planning to work all day today too."

"Ditching school eh? I like it. I'm in."

"No, no, no. You missy, are going to school today. No matter how bad you are." He replies with that joking voice again.

"Well, father, try and stop me." I tell him and start to run to the garden door.

"Hey now, get back here!" he laughs and chases me out into the garden.

I round the corner filled with yellow daisies and come to a sudden stop. I'm standing in front of the tree in the center of the garden and all the other pathways have deep, muddy, puddles from the rain the night before. I hear his footsteps approaching quickly and before I know it, I'm being lifted off the ground by my waist and spun around.

"Gotcha!' he says playfully. I let out a laugh and he sets me down, turning me to face him. "Now, let's go before Kazzy comes after us."

"Good idea." We both walk back to the studio and as I begin my trek to the front door to get the much needed skate in, Soichi starts to speak again.

"Amber." The way he says my name makes my heart speed up. "Thanks." He smiles at me.

"I didn't do anything except wake you up." I reply.

"But you did…" he goes back to working without another word.

That afternoon…

After Kazuto made me go to school this morning, I decide to talk to Taro at lunch.

"So, Soichi seems different lately…" Taro begins to explain.

"Different? Different how?" I question.

"He's really inspired lately… I wonder if it's because he has you?" As he says this, Taro takes one of my hands in his but I pull back instinctively.

"Um… Um… I-I don't know…" I stutter.

"Oh, sorry. Still… I'm envious of Soichi…"

"Why?" his gaze is intense but I continue to hold eye contact, trying my best not to let the maroon color of discomfort show through my eyes. "Um, anyways. About the engagement thing…" I quickly change the subject.

"Haven't found anything about that yet. In fact, I haven't heard of anything about it at all. Who told you about it anyways?"

"His father." I state flatly, crossing my arms and leaning back in the plastic cafeteria chair.

"From his father? I will keep looking into it."

"Thanks."

I head home from my talk with Taro, thinking about Soichi. As I pass the fountain, someone grabs me from behind and I almost lose my balance as my skateboard goes flying past people and runs into the fountain.

"Amber!" I turn and see Nazuna.

"Damn it, Nazuna! Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry." She apologizes and I see Aki standing behind her with a huge smile on his face.

"It's all right. Just give me a warning next time."

"Well, I said your name. Anyways, what were you doing talking to that hot guy? I'm going to tell Soichi!"

"Please, Nazuna. Don't do that. Don't tell Soichi. Please."

Just then, Aki speaks up. "Then what were you talking about?"

"Nothing." I breathe. "Nothing… we were just talking about Soichi. He has a way to get information that I need and we were just discussing some things."

"Soichi? Interesting…" Aki raised an eyebrow.

"Don't tell him okay? He would kill me if he found out that I was talking to him. Literally, Soichi can't stand that guy."

"Alright." Aki and Nazuna agree to keep my meetings a secret after I tell them all the details about the black mailing and the engagement.

When I get home, I go to the living room and toss my skateboard by the door.

"Your skateboard doesn't belong there. Go put it away." I see Kazuto on the sofa.

"Sorry Kazzy. Long day." I apologize sleepily.

"Want to talk about it? Oh, and Soichi is asleep in his room, if you wanted to know. I think he finished his work."

"Thanks, and no. I don't want to talk about it. But he really finished his project?" I state the last part happily and Kazuto just laughs at my response.

"You light up whenever Soichi comes up."

"No I don't."

"Hahaha…. Well, whatever. I'm sure he will be up in time for dinner." He gets up and walks towards the kitchen. "Oh, and Sho made something for you. It's out in the garden by the carnations."

"'Kay. Thanks. I'm going to the roof for a bit. If anyone asks, I don't want to be bothered."

"You got it." I hear him say from the kitchen and I go up to the roof. I take a quick detour to the gardens and see that Sho made me a skateboard hanger that goes on the wall. There was a note saying it was for me, and I should hang it up in my room or in the entry way if Kazuto allows it.

I can't believe he noticed that when Soichi is mentioned, I seem to get a little happier. I wonder how Soichi will feel about it if he finds out.

On my way upstairs, I pick up the framed photo and carry it up to the roof with me to think over it.

If his grandfather was alive, things between Soichi and his father would be better. Instead, he is against Soichi's dream and he obviously hates me. That's how I see it. But I still don't want to believe that Soichi's father is a bad person and about this engagement thing…

I look down at the photograph in my hands.

At least Soichi has a father. I think. At least he has a family, even if they are against him.

The person on the right looks familiar but my thoughts are interrupted by Kazuto coming on to the roof.

"Sorry, Amber. I know you wanted to be alone but I- Amber? Are you okay?"

I realize that I have been crying. I never cry. I sniff and respond. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. What did you need?" I try to sound as happy and fine as usual.

"Okay, Amber. We both know that's a lie you hardly ever cry. What's wrong?" he comes closer and sits next to me, putting an arm around my shoulders.

"I was just looking at this picture and thinking about how even though Soichi's dad doesn't support his decisions and Soichi practically despises him, he forgets that some people don't have a family… Like me."

"Amber, I'm so sorry… I had no idea. Anything I can do to help?"

"Can you bring people back from the dead?" I snap with a lump in my throat.

"No…"

"Then there's your answer." I shake off his arm and half run, half walk to the door so I can get to my room, throwing the photo on the ground as I do so.

"Amber, wait!" I hear Kazuto call after me but tears are blurring my vision.

I arrive at my room and slam the door shut and lock it with my powers as I lean up against it and slide down to the floor. I start to cry harder and harder. I can't think of anything but that night, six years ago.

Men came rushing into our house, my dad was a mafia boss, and they demanded some kind of information from him and my mother. I ran and hid in my closet and after about ten minutes of shouting, I hears three gunshots and the front door being slammed shut. I ran downstairs and saw my parents, dead, on the floor of the living room. I heard sirens and my dad's best business partner, Soryu Oh, came and took me in. I lived with him for six years until I got accepted into college. I am forever grateful for him.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

I hear a knock at my door after about ten minutes and the thought of having to face people again make me cry harder.

"Amber? Amber, it's me. Come on, open up." I hear Soichi's voice on the other side of the door.

"Go away. I don't want to talk to anybody." I snap.

"Come on, please?"

"Fine." I stand up and unlock the door. As soon as the lock clicks, the door bursts open and I am enveloped in a warm, strong, hug.

"Amber, I am so sorry. Kazuto told me what happened. Are you alright?" he pulls away from me and grabs my shoulders and looks into my eyes.

"I'm fine. Just memories now." I assure him. "Is dinner ready yet?"

"You sure? And yes, dinner is done. Kazuto sent me up here to get you."

"Yes, I'm sure. Let's go eat. After all that crying, I'm ravenous."

-To Be Continued-