Chapter 45: Let's talk feelings
Sakuno was a little nervous again when Kotone said those words, but unwilling to play a bad host, she allowed her to walk in.
"Look I understand that it isn't right of me to talk to you about things that Kunimitsu has decided. But I wanted you to understand that the things he is doing is out of pity and duty. What is going to happen to his reputation after all this is resolved? You guys divorced he will end up becoming a divorcee… your name will be dragged out through the mud and no lady may consider marrying him. Not only that, your name will be dragged through mud too. Your son Akihiko would be considered a child conceived through wedlock and that you are after the Tezuka fortune."
"… I know…"
"If you care about him… you'll call this off… this isn't a game… it isn't something one can just undo. He's seriously trying very hard to atone for Orochi's misgivings but we both know that it wasn't his fault… if he continues this way, he'd give his life just repaying a debt…"
Death? That was something that Sakuno had never considered. Death…. That was right… What if he killed Kunimitsu to get to her? Knowing him… he would have done the thing he would usually do if a bullet came at her… he would save her life and watch himself die… All because he believed it was his duty…She couldn't… possibly….
"…I won't let him do it. Please understand Kotone, he means the world to me… I would never allow him to go through with it. I won't let him sacrifice himself for me. He means a lot to me for that to happen. If I knew he was going to end up doing something reckless, I rather disappear."
"… Fine. I'll trust you to tell him."
Sakuno nodded and watched Kotone marched dutifully out of the door and Sakuno shut the door and opened the window because she felt like she was going to suffocate. Her eyes were all chocked up as she could feel her hot tears forming and she understood the pain… trapped between what is right and wrong… trapped between wanting to stay with him and wanting to give him freedom… Trapped between wanting to marry the man because she loved him and yet not marrying him to grant him happiness and freedom.
"I can't marry him…"
Sakuno utter and then she wiped her tear away and walked towards the writing desk and began writing a letter.
Kunimitsu looked back on his work, but there was something that made him uneasy. Sakuno? Something was off with her earlier during breakfast… he wanted to talk to her… he needed to clear that up again? Kotone really created problems for him.
"What's up?"
Fuji asked while he polished his videos on his laptop. He did not even look up but Kunimitsu looked up at Fuji and responded
"Feeling uneasy."
"Then go sooth the uneasiness."
Just as Kunimitsu made a decision to go and talk to Sakuno, Kotone burst through the door and then Kunimitsu felt like a headache is about to erupt from his head.
"I just talked to Sakuno earlier."
That was a great start for the headache. He frowned and pinched his nose bridge as he asked
"You did what?"
"I talked to her, about how you are taking responsibility but this isn't right. Sakuno agreed with me."
"Kotone!"
Kunimitsu raised his voice, sharp and ringing it made Kotone jump and stepped two steps back as Kunimitsu turned to look at Fuji as he said
"What are you looking for a sign?"
Kunimitsu did not need telling twice as he made his way to the door when Kotone stepped in front of it as she said
"Kunimitsu! This is for your own good."
Kunimitsu gritted his teeth as he could virtually see Sakuno leaving a note behind as he growled
"And if you do not stand aside, I will use brute force. For your own good, step aside before I get really mad."
Kotone had to admit she has never seen so much anger in Kunimitsu's eyes and she personally shook a little in fear as she stepped aside and Kunimitsu yanked the door open and sprinted out so fast, he looked like he evaporated into thin air.
Fuji sauntered up to Kotone and said
"That's what you get when you stand between Kunimitsu and Sakuno. Just in case you missed the memo… Kunimitsu is crazy about her and she is crazy about him. So you better heed the advice, step aside and let them get their happy ending."
Kunimitsu raced to her room and true enough, Sakuno was no longer in the room and there was a clean note on the bed. Kunimitsu yanked it from the bed and growled
"This is not a romantic drama."
He pocketed the letter and ran out of her room and towards the beach. Sakuno would never leave Akihiko behind. As he arrived at the edge of the beach he could see Sakuno's silhouette headed towards somewhere… the mere sight of her leaving made him run faster than he has ever run before. Sprinting through the beach and his arm reached out and his hand clasped around hers and swung her around.
"Wher…where are you going?"
Sakuno realized that he had caught up and hadn't read the letter. Sakuno muttered
"Please let go."
Usually that was enough to let Kunimitsu release her hand, but… he was afraid. He forgot what fear felt like.
"No. Tell me why are you writing a letter addressed to me? Talk to me… tell me."
"…I just can't marry you."
"Sakuno…I told you that I wanted to and that it is the only way I can protect you."
"I don….I don't want you to protect me anymore. I want you to stop. Live your life… You've lived your life without me or protecting me… please go back that way."
Kunimitsu was shocked to even hear those words. Live his life? Live his life… Sakuno was right that he had lived his life without her before…
"I can't. Even if I can… I don't want to."
Sakuno's tears threatened to come out as she said
"Stop this… I understand your sentiment that Orochi was your cousin and it is your responsibility and that grandma made you promise to protect me. But I don't want you to keep this anymore. You are free to do whatever you want. I forgave you, you saved me… and that should be enough!"
Should it be enough? Why isn't it enough? Why isn't it enough? Because? Because…
"Just let me go…"
"I won't."
"Kunimitsu…"
That look…
That face… She says that she wanted him to be free…
"No. I won't because you are wrong."
That stopped Sakuno in her tracks. What did he say?
"I did not choose to marry you because I feel guilty because of Orochi… Nor did I choose to marry you because I promised your grandmother… I choose to protect you because I want you to be alive, for I can't follow you if you are dead. I choose to search for you to protect you because I wanted to see you."
"Wanted to see me?"
"I wanted to see you because I missed you. Yes. I've lived my life without you before… but I like living my life with you. My happiest days are filled with the days where I spent them with you. So I am marrying you, not because of Orochi. Not because of your grandmother… but because I am tired of pretending I don't know…"
"Don't know?"
Sakuno merely ended up parroting his words and Kunimitsu's eyes glowed with the setting sun and he stepped closer…
"I am tired of pretending not to know that I've been in love with you my whole life. Sure I want to date you… I want those calls we have every three days… I want to carry Akihiko and visit the zoo as a trio… I want to date you knowing one day… I'll propose…"
For a moment, there was pure silence between them as a gust of wind shook up the tense feelings around them. Kunimitsu ruffled his own hair and once he had his verbal vomit, it just kept rolling off his tongue.
"I love you… I love you so much. If you don't feel the same way, I won't force you. But just don't disappear…"
Sakuno choked a little at her own tears but they were so close and Kunimitsu's eyes reflected all the answers she needed to know and instinctively she reached around his neck, Her arm free to hold him close and she whispered
"I love you too… I love you so much it hurt thinking that you are bound by duty to see me and protect me… Because even when it should be the first thing I think about… being protected since Orochi, but I can't help but think about being with you… and how happy that would make me."
Kunimitsu felt his body tremble from deep within. Even if he did not say it, his heart thumped heavily in his chest. She was so close and he could breathe in her jasmine scented hair and a fresh smell of oranges… The way the setting sun dusted her cheeks pink… Kunimitsu thought he knew what nervous meant, but he had no idea that he could even feel this nervous. He even felt his hands were clammy and his throat real dry. Kunimitsu took a deep breath and leaned in to press a chaste kiss onto her lips. But even at the small touch, Kunimitsu knew he was right. His heart never felt fuller… the mere contact of lips made butterflies in his stomach and he wanted to do it again.
Sakuno never felt safer… the kiss wasn't the one like she had with Orochi… forced and different. She was surrounded by Kunimitsu's scent and gentle kiss… and then a second and a third… a rain of gentle kisses that they shared under the dying sunlight. That moment was her happiest moment and it was like magic as her fears disappeared with the setting sun.
Sakuno and Kunimitsu were walking back to the hotel hand in hand, for that special moment, there was peace and tranquility between the two. A group of kids passed them by, they were holding a soccer ball and discussing tactics as their manager trailed behind them. Sakuno could see the captain slowing down just so that the manager can catch up. The manager smiled gently at the captain who smiled back and just for a moment, it looked like that precious second was theirs and theirs alone. Sakuno felt nostalgic, those were the days a lot like the times they used to have.
"Never imagined how much we've grown…"
Kunimitsu who was also watching the secret couple, turned to smile a little back at Sakuno. The two of them turned to look at the captain and the manager secretly standing at the back to talk to each other.
"I remember, you used to be so afraid of new people and you tend to stutter a lot."
"I did… I was afraid of them… but having you around made me stronger."
Kunimitsu remembered that day, it was nice and hot as usual and he was headed towards the taps for a drink when he could hear the delinquents that usually hang around their practice mocking them talking to someone. He found Sakuno standing in front of them, her back straight and her eyes bright with anger as she stood her ground. Kunimitsu could admit now… his heart skipped a beat. When he heard her sticking up for him, his heart swelled with pride.
"I thought you were amazing standing up to those delinquents. That took guts."
Sakuno smiled a little as she recalled
"But I still had you come in and chase them off before they got violent."
Kunimitsu remembered that moment. When the leader slapped Sakuno, Kunimitsu snapped. He didn't think as he threw his tennis ball straight into the leader's face, like it was a baseball. He did not realize he was halfway about to beat the group into pulp if Sakuno had not stopped him.
"Had you not stopped me, I would've hurt them really bad."
Sakuno had the nostalgic sigh in her voice as she responded
"Yes… your violent streak sometimes still show up. Remember when we first met? You were so young but you were arrogant and quick to use your fist."
Kunimitsu could not help the small chuckle as he remembered that day. It was hot and he had just jumped through a thick bush and fallen into a ditch on his way home. He was mad at the world and sick of the other rich kids with their snooty noses… he was already annoyed when he saw a girl being bullied. He didn't think, he acted. He punched the leader without another word.
"I wonder why… I rarely have violent tendencies."
Sakuno had a sneaky look on her face, she let his hand go as she answered cheekily
"Don't count on it."
"We've arrived back…"
Kunimitsu recognized their building and soon when they go back in… they have to face all types of horrors… and soon tomorrow they will marry and also the day after… they would be heading back to their home… he had been arranging for people to fix his place to accommodate them. He just wanted a house for the three and perhaps a few more people in case.
"Yeah… we are."
Sakuno felt a little sad that they have arrived but at the same time, it was about time they faced reality of everything. Kunimitsu's hand naturally reached out for hers as he asked
"Will you marry me tomorrow?"
Sakuno looked at Kunimitsu, since their confessions earlier… she started to regain her capability of reading him properly. There was concern and even though they had only just started a new chapter… they are starting from the end of the book to the beginning.
"Yes. Please take care of us."
Kunimitsu pulled her into his embrace as he responded
"I will always do that. I promise."
Sakuno felt so comfortable in his arms, her arms naturally reached out to hold him too when Fuji came out and said
"Okay you two. Break it up! No intimacy the night before the wedding!"
Sakuno felt her face turn beet red and Kunimitsu could feel the corners of his eyes burning as he cleared his throat and marched up with Sakuno in tow as he said
"We know that… Let's go back inside Sakuno."
Fuji chuckled as he watched the two of them scuttle into the hotel like two lovebirds getting caught by their mother as he muttered
"About damn time someone made a move."
Fuji simply shrugged and headed back into the house and little did they know, a person was outside making a phone call.
What do you mean that they are going to get married tomorrow?!
…
You promised that you had everything under control! Does this look like fricking control right now? I am sitting here on my ass while you get to watch them get married? Where is the bargain in all this?
…
If you tell me patience one more F-ing time… I will personally end you! We need to plan something! A sabotage or a diversion! I do not care if they are married! I need them back here ASAP! We need to launch our plan earlier!
…
"You better get it right this time! Or I'll take you down before I do. I don't care, I already have a bounty on my head and I am apparently halfway into crazy town. Taking you down with me will be my vengeance as much as it will be something I'm close to desiring to do!
…
The person shut the phone and sighed a little, but the person walked away from the building and vanished just as quickly.
TBC...
