Chapter 26
Keitaro waited outside the Hinata Café. He was waiting for Mutsumi to leave so he could talk to her alone without worrying Haruka. Keitaro didn't have to wait very long as Mutsumi stumbled out of the café carrying a watermelon.
"Kei-kun, this is perfect. I was just about to bring this up for you." Mutsumi smiled.
"Hey Mutsumi, could we go for a walk. I want to talk to you privately." Keitaro said.
"Off course Kei-kun, where did you want to go?" Mutsumi asked.
"There's a playground around here. It has a sand box that I used to play in as a child. That park is really quite." Keitaro replied.
"I know that playground. I used to play there too." Mutsumi nodded as she led the way.
"You seem happier than usual." Keitaro noted as he followed.
"Yes, I'm happy because I can spend time with you alone. We haven't been able to recently." Mutsumi revealed.
"I guess you're right about that." Keitaro mumbled.
"Also Naru…" Mutsumi tried to say.
"Let's not talk about her now. You always seem to do that, try and change the topic to Naru." Keitaro accused.
"I guess it's just a force of habit." Mutsumi apologized.
"We here." Keitaro said as they entered the park.
"It's been a long time since I visited here." Mutsumi reminisced.
"There's a picnic area over there." Keitaro pointed.
"Kei-kun, could we sit on the swings. I know it sounds a bit silly but it's been ages since I have." Mutsumi requested.
"I suppose we could. It looks sturdy enough." Keitaro sighed.
Mutsumi placed her watermelon down and sat on one of the swings and began to rock back and forth. Keitaro sat next to her and remained still.
"Come on Kei-kun, it's no fun if you just sit like that." Mutsumi teased.
"Mutsumi, you've been to visit my grandmother a lot." Keitaro cut to the point.
"Someone has to. She's lonely." Mutsumi said gloomily.
"She has done things recently that are hard to forgive." Keitaro responded.
"She misses her family. She misses you, she misses Kanako. She wants to see the both of you." Mutsumi exclaimed.
"No, stop right there. Don't get involved anymore." Keitaro warned.
"What are you talking about Kei-kun?" Mutsumi asked.
"You're putting yourself in the middle of this. I can't stop you from visiting granny but just keep it to that. Don't let yourself get sucked in like that girl Saki." Keitaro explained.
"Granny told me about that girl and how she's lying about her." Mutsumi replied.
"No, Mutsumi. Granny is the one who lied to her and manipulated her. Saki almost ended up throwing away her future." Keitaro retorted.
"When did you become so distrusting of granny Kei-kun?" Mutsumi asked.
"I guess it began the day she invited me here and forgot to mention it was an all girls dorm." Keitaro answered. "And then I completely lost my trust in her when she tried to hijack my sister out of the country."
"Granny Hina explained that to me. She was just trying to make sure Kanako could complete her dream of becoming an inn manager." Mutsumi exclaimed.
"That's not her dream. Kanako dreams of becoming an actress. She gets so excited when she talks about acting and makeup and playing a role." Keitaro replied.
"I choose to believe in granny. I'm sorry you don't feel the same." Mutsumi frowned.
"If that's the case, then I have to warn you. If you try and do anything that is detrimental to Kanako, I will no longer consider us friends and when you have to face the consequences I will not help you." Keitaro stated as he got up to leave.
XXXXX
Urumi and Shinobu were in the kitchen of the Hinata House preparing to cook. Urumi had gone out and purchased enough ingredients to cook plenty of food. The blonde was going to make several dishes and refrigerate them for Onizuka so he could take them home and have quick meals on the go.
"Thank you for your help." Urumi said as she prepared the ingredients.
"It's no problem. I'm glad to help especially since you take time to tutor me." Shinobu replied as she got started.
"I'm really worried about him. He has been eating fast food way too much since I've been away." Urumi sighed.
"Do you have anything specific you want to make?" Shinobu asked.
"He really likes beef bowl." Urumi thought out loud. "It's perfect because all I have to do is prepare the beef, he can make the rice at home."
"We used to make beef bowl at our family restaurant. It was quick and easy, ready on the go." Shinobu smiled remembering happier times.
"Do you have a special family recipe that you're willing to share?" Urumi asked.
"We used the standard recipe, nothing special, beef and onion simmered in sweet sauce flavoured with soy sauce and sweet rice wine." Shinobu explained.
"I picked up some shirataki noodles; those go with beef bowl right?" Urumi questioned.
"Yes, people really like it. Sometimes customers used to top theirs with a raw egg." Shinobu added.
"I have a friend who works at a culinary school. If you ever want to take a tour there one day to see what it's like I would be more than happy to take you. You look happiest when you're cooking and baking." Urumi responded.
"When I'm in the kitchen I can remember when my family was complete. I can remember all the fun we had in the kitchen. Now that's all I have, memories." Shinobu explained.
"I'm sorry if I brought up a sore topic." Urumi apologized.
"No, it's alright. I'm not as affected by the divorce anymore. I like things here now that I don't feel like a maid." Shinobu smiled. "That smells lovely."
"Everything is coming together quickly. This really is quick and easy." Urumi said.
"That's because the beef is sliced thinly. In our restaurant we served it with pickled ginger, ground chilli pepper, and a side dish of miso soup." Shinobu replied.
"Eikichi will probably want every side dish possible." Urumi laughed.
"Can I ask you something?" Shinobu spoke up.
"You can ask me anything." Urumi nodded.
"Every day you come home at a different time, is everything alright at work?" Shinobu asked.
"The truth is I get off work every day at the same time. I just take different routes home that's why the different times." Urumi admitted.
"Why?" Shinobu questioned intrigued.
"It might just be my imagination but I think someone might be following me. Working as a consultant has these kinds of risks. Rival companies trying to get an advantage and such." Urumi sighed.
"Just make sure you're safe. If you are being followed then you should report it. It could get dangerous." Shinobu warned.
"I know. I've mentioned this to my employers and they said they'll check into it." Urumi assured.
XXXXX
Kitsune sat on her bed staring at her cell phone. She had a number typed in but couldn't bring herself to press dial. She placed the phone down and picked it up and repeated this cycle several times before Naru entered the room.
"You've shut yourself in. You're going to make every suspicious." Naru warned carrying a brown bag of take out.
"Is that?" Kitsune asked eager.
"Yes, noodles from your favourite restaurant." Naru replied.
"Thank you, I'm starving." Kitsune said getting up.
"It figures you'd be starving after spending the whole day in your room. You can't lock yourself in here." Naru responded.
"I don't want anyone to know. They already think the worst of me, I can imagine how they would see me if they found out I was accidently pregnant." Kitsune muttered.
"I don't think anyone is going to figure it out." Naru shook her head.
"Yui was able to just by how I was behaving. I don't want to risk it." Kitsune declined.
"Yui is really smart and she was focusing on you because you were crying. If you go about your day as normal, I don't think anyone will notice." Naru suggested.
"Maybe you're right but I just don't know. Urumi is also really smart. She might be able to tell just by seeing me." Kitsune fretted.
"She's smart not psychic. What are you going to do about work? You already missed a few days." Naru asked.
"I asked for a few days off to run down leads on the Molmol story. My editor was more than happy to give me them." Kitsune explained.
"You shouldn't lie to your editor." Naru scolded.
"I didn't lie." Kitsune scoffed. "I've been making calls and writing all day. It's the only thing that helps me get my mind of everything."
"I'm sorry." Naru apologized.
Kitsune then took the bag and began to eat straight from the boxes. While she ate, Naru picked up her cell to charge it and saw the number typed in.
"You were going to call Tora." Naru exclaimed.
"I was unsure about everything. I didn't." Kitsune explained.
"Kitsune you really need to focus and get help. Who knows how he's going to react to this news, especially since he is a rich guy with connections. Something like this could ruin his marriage." Naru said.
"I know but he's the father. He has a right to know." Kitsune replied.
"He does but you should wait until we can make sure he can't hurt you. There are organisations that can help you and give you guidance on what to do." Naru then handed Kitsune leaflets.
"Naru, you're getting too involved. I told you I don't want to involve outsiders." Kitsune cursed.
"That's the typical response from an abuse victim. It says so in all those pamphlets. You should read them." Naru pointed out.
"This is my life, stop butting in so much." Kitsune sneered.
"No, this is no longer your life. This is the life of you and your unborn child. I don't care what you say; I am your best friend and that child's 'aunt'." Naru declared. "I will protect you from this guy."
"Can't you hear yourself Naru? One abuser cannot protect someone from another abuser. Don't you see the contrariness of you trying to help me?" Kitsune scoffed.
"I know damn it. I know. Something like this should not be happening to you. You don't deserve this." Naru cried.
"I'm sorry, I'm just emotional." Kitsune hugged Naru and cried as well.
XXXXX
Motoko stood on the inn's terrace leaning against the railing looking out at the night sky. She was confused about a lot of things that were very new to her.
"I'm glad you're here. I feel like we should talk. You've been avoiding me since yesterday." Yamato said walking onto the terrace.
"I said some stuff yesterday without really thinking about what they meant." Motoko replied.
"You have been sending mixed signals." Yamato stated.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Motoko responded.
"First you explicitly stated we weren't on a date and then yesterday you said you were jealous." Yamato explained.
"This is all confusing to me; just over a month ago I hated all males." Motoko mumbled.
"I remember the first time I met you up here." Yamato reminisced thinking back to the time Motoko was talking about.
"You called me amazing." Motoko smiled.
"And then you proceeded to attack me with your wooden sword." Yamato laughed.
"I'm sorry for that." Motoko apologized.
"We should really talk about what happened yesterday." Yamato responded.
"I just want to forget that I said such embarrassing things." Motoko moaned.
"No, you can't take back your words. Because once you say them, there's no refund." Yamato replied.
"I don't want to talk about this." Motoko said trying to leave.
"I can't leave things this way." Yamato stated getting in her way.
"I'm not in the mood now. Please just move out the way." Motoko pleaded.
"Maybe if this was a few months ago I would just let you leave but I know better now. I can't leave things unresolved." Yamato refused.
Motoko grabbed Yamato's shirt with her good hand and tugged attempting to cast him aside but nothing happened. Gripping a fist full of material she couldn't summon the demonic strength she had used on Keitaro in the past.
"Your hand is trembling." Yamato noted as he slowly pulled her hand off.
"This is so confusing. I've never felt this way and I don't know what to do about it." Motoko admitted.
"Just speak, I'll listen. I'll listen to everything you have to say." Yamato smiled.
"When you're around I feel these silly emotions, I get shy and scatter-brained at the same time but I'm happy. It's so confusing but I still look forward to seeing you." Motoko confessed.
"That sounds like you like me. I hope I'm right because if truth be told, I like you too." Yamato responded.
"You're just saying that because you don't want to hurt my feelings." Motoko shook her head.
"What happened to that confident girl that tried to cut me down on this very terrace?" Yamato asked.
"She started feeling strangely after she got a hospital visit from the last person she expected. It allowed her to see him in a different light." Motoko mumbled.
Yamato chuckled lightly and continued staring at her.
"How can you be so light hearted? My chest is tight and my heart is racing and my head is muddled." Motoko complained.
"It's calming to have a beautiful girl standing in front of me." Yamato mumbled.
"Stop it. Don't do that. You're making things worse." Motoko blushed shaking her head.
"Fine, I won't say anything like that." Yamato mimed zipping his lips.
"I…I…I…I…" Motoko stuttered.
"Take your time, you don't have to rush." Yamato tried to calm Motoko down.
"I like you." Motoko finally admitted. "I said it, I actually said it. I can't believe I said it."
"There, that wasn't so …" Yamato tried to say but was cut off.
The kendo girl had tried to go in for a hug but the fact she never hugged a guy she liked before showed as she messed up and ended up heading butting Yamato's jaw.
"Ouch." Motoko rubbed her forehead as she back stepped embarrassed. "I can't even hug properly."
Yamato leaned forward and place his two arms around Motoko, pressing her warmly toward him. He's arms were low so that he embracing her around the waist. Motoko was shocked and her natural instinct to exterminate and eradicate was replaced by exhilaration and anticipation.
"This is where you put your arms behind my neck and press your chest lightly against mine." Yamato whispered.
"Oh." Motoko did so and found it relaxing.
"This is how you hug." Yamato laughed nervously.
They held position for no more than a couple seconds, and Motoko let go as soon as he did. He looked her into her eyes when they separated.
The awkwardness of 'what now' was in the air but Motoko was too energized and excited to worry about that now. The moment was interrupted by Keitaro calling Yamato to do his chores.
"Sorry, I have work. Got to earn my keep." Yamato said.
"It's alright. I understand." Motoko smiled.