A/N: This is my first attempt at a YohXAnna, HaoXAnnaXYoh and YohXHao (brotherly love) madness, let alone, a chaptered AU. On why I decided to mix all those ingredients in one go like a good ol' scrambled omelette, I have no idea. But yes, I saw the S.K. rock band themed merch and I couldn't resist.
Now, witness the drama unfold.
(Disclaimer: I do NOT own the characters used in this story.)
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UNSPOKEN FAITH – Chapter 1: A Storm is Brewing
The tea was already stale.
She grimaced as she slowly gulped the remaining liquid from her mouth then lowered the fancy teacup down on its matching saucer, placed next to her elbow on the round table.
It was a fine late afternoon in the middle of the spring season. Perfect for a ladies' day out. She smacked her lips together and caught the faint scent of the mixed honey and chamomile tisane from her breath. Her long blonde hair set in large, loose, curls were blown elegantly by the cool breeze. Beneath the ample shade which her woven summer hat provided, her mouth curved into a charming smile, showcasing the subtle dimple on her supple cheek. She tucked some of her strands behind her left ear to prevent them from getting into her face.
"She's at it again," a firm female voice stated.
Her other two lady companions—one dressed in a jade green quipao, and the other, clad in a vintage tea dress, both looked at the blonde expectantly as if they were waiting for a reaction from her serene face. It was hard to decipher her facial expressions since her eyes were concealed by a pair of dark and wide sunglasses. One of her friends held a smartphone up for all three of them to see the video that was currently playing.
The trio was lounging at an outdoor setting by a posh tea house, located in a secluded spot within the business district of Tokyo. A multitude of cherry blossoms lay on the ground and some petals continue to fall gracefully with every nudge from the wind. The grey stone pavement of the sidewalk coupled by the floral parasols that stood in the middle of each table strengthened the ambiance of their afternoon high tea The sunset-palleted skies completed the mood.
A couple of young men walked past and timidly slowed down when they neared the group's table. "Uhm, h-hello, Anna-san," one of them greeted, while both politely bowed in unison towards the blonde.
Anna slightly craned her neck towards her admirers and issued a graceful nod towards them in acknowledgement.
"Apologies for invading your personal time but, we saw you from afar, and we couldn't help but to admire you closer. All the hearsays are true, you really are stunning in person."
But where was the lie?
Anyone who would have seen her in her pristine white summer dress would believe that she is some sort of a Greek goddess. It had a sweetheart neckline and the string straps tied in a ribbon above each of her shoulder accentuated her clavicle and modest cleavage. Her dress's hem rested just above her knees, and it highlighted her flawlessly smooth legs strapped in her nude block-heeled sandals.
"Thank you. You are very kind," the blonde responded to the stranger's words with a small smile as she took off her sunglasses to further recognize their admiration.
The two lads blushed and fidgeted uncomfortably as if they were conflicted to ask about something. However, Anna was sharp enough to notice that they wanted her autograph but were clearly too bashful to ask upfront.
Seeing people around her being so starstruck was not something new. Afterall, Asakura Anna became one of the most acclaimed singers of the present times by the age of 25. She rose to fame as the frontwoman of a pop-rock band which team members also comprised of her now husband as then drummer, the drummer's twin brother as the lead/ rhythm guitarist, and the drummer's best friend as the bassist. Despite their disbandment 2 years ago for undisclosed reasons other than each member 'wanting to pursue their own dreams', Anna has continued with her singing career as a soloist.
She wittingly picked up two of the serviettes rested next to her drink then reached for a pen inside her red studded Valentino purse. The ink saturated the paper material instantly, but her signature remained eligible. She repeated the treatment for the other then handed the signed 'memorabilia' to the gentlemen who looked like they were going to faint. The lads were brutally shocked with her gesture but managed to thank her repeatedly before scurrying off like lovesick Labrador puppies. This will definitely be the best days of their adolescent lives to date.
The cute scenario was interrupted after hearing one of the ladies cleared her throat. Anna noted Jeanne, holding a teacup to her mouth with her pinky finger sticking out, was obviously the one who made the sound; her blood red eyes intentionally fixated on Anna. Jeanne, on the other hand, could not wait any longer and broke the silence.
"So? What do you think?"
"What do you want me to say?" the blonde replied calmly with a raised eyebrow.
"Anna, it's official. This bitch is definitely clawing for your husband, and we say you should start moving your bum as soon as possible to show her she messed with the wrong wife." Jun demanded so eagerly while she put her cup down.
"Look, I don't want to sound like the friend who instigates malice and supports negativity but coming from experience…" Jeanne explained as traumatic memories started to haunt her.
"Just watch closely," the woman dressed in green raised her phone once again and replayed the video of the entertainment news posted on social media just an hour ago. She couldn't afford 2 women ending-up in a heap of bloodied mess in front of her.
The blonde sighed and agreed to watch it just to rid herself from her two companion's consistent insinuations.
She stared blankly on the smartphone's screen to pay a closer attention. Everything started fair and innocent.
Anna caught her husband's undeniably attractive appearance even through a small to say, he was blessed with the fatal combination of good-looks and charismatic character.
Asakura Yoh was clad in casual clothes— light orange hoodie with a denim over jacket, paired with dark pants and white sneakers. His towering height and comforting stance could easily make any girl fall into the rabbit hole of infatuation. Starting his fame as being one of the most sought-after pop-rock drummers in the music industry, he is now a successful music producer and a co-owner of a record label at the young age of 26.
His genuine smile remained as he stood in front of the camera, despite the numerous photography flashes that continuously blared on his face. Next to him, stood a young and attractive woman who was fashionably dressed in a light blue slitted dress which hugged her curves in all the right places. The lose updo of her pale strawberry-coloured hair coupled with the sweet smile plastered on her pretty little face was the perfect display of feigned innocence.
The lady, named Tamao, has just debuted about two months ago and was one of the newest talents representing the recording label. Ever since, she has been within the watchful eyes of the media and the paparazzi. The company has recently announced her upcoming single which was produced by none other than the gentleman currently standing beside her, as part of a collaboration.
Anna focused her attention further when some interviewers barraged the duo with questions.
"Tamao-san, how do you feel about your quickly rising popularity as a singer?"
"Can you tell us more about your upcoming album?"
"Hi, first of all, thank you for being with us tonight," she started. "I can honestly say that I am very pleased about the current status of my career, and I am trying to enjoy every bit of it as much as I can," she paused and giggled.
"On the other hand, I apologise, but I cannot tell you more details about my upcoming album other than the present information that my recording company has released. I will be in trouble with the bosses if I release spoilers." The singer gave a quick side glance at Yoh then bowed with a bashful smile.
"Can you describe your experience working with Yoh-san?"
Tamao's eyes sparkled as her smile grew in front of the camera. Unconsciously, she snaked her hands onto Yoh's left arm. The brunette, in turn, was quite shocked with the gesture but did nothing to show it.
Reflexively, Anna inhaled a deep breath as she saw how the whole scenario played in the video almost in slow motion. She scrutinized how the pink-haired woman closed the distance with her husband by grabbing onto his arm and subtly pressing it towards her chest with a satisfied smile.
"Working with Yoh-sempai has been a very special experience so far, and I will never regret those moments we have spent together. I am excited with the next projects we could be working on next," she answered, her smirk never leaving her mouth.
'Next?' So, they already agreed on a next project just right after finishing one?
Oh, how Anna wanted to slap that face.
"Yoh-san! Where did you draw you inspiration from when writing a beautiful song for Tamao-san?"
"How is Anna-san doing during her vacation?"
"Can we expect a reunion from the band soon?"
Anna can swear to her grave that she saw Tamao roll her eyes at the interviewer's mention of her name.
"Would you now care to comment regarding the speculations that the true reason behind ending your band's almost 7-year domination streak 2 years ago, was a love triangle fiasco within the group?"
The questions felt like bullets coming from a firing squad. They did not give him the time to recover to give way for rational answers.
Yoh shut his eyes calmly as he gasped for air then opened them again to address his interviewers as professionally as he can.
"Hi, uh, to be honest it wasn't that hard to write the song, as Tamao is a very talented artist. I'm sure she would have turned any song into something magical," he opened. "Also, thank you for asking about Anna. She is… doing well."
Anna watched her husband trailed with his words as he seemed hesitant to get them out of his mouth. Knowing him for more than a decade, she knew from the looks of it that he was panicking inside, but he has now become a master of hiding his emotions in front of the prying eyes of the public. All celebrities needed to learn that skill to survive through the world they lived in.
She heard him speak again, still in his unyielding calm and confidence. "Please, I believe, this meeting is about our dearest Tamao. Kindly focus all the questions within professional boundaries."
Yoh seemed to be looking at someone from behind the camera. Coming from experience, she guessed that it must be the manager signalling him from the crowd to cut the interview short due to time constraints.
Four bodyguards approached through the crowd towards the two interviewees, waving against the group of reporters and cameramen to cease further questions. They motioned for them to leave the spot. Yoh and Tamao apologised to the members of the media for having to ditch any further interactions.
"Sorry, everyone, and thank you for your time." The brunette apologised courteously.
"Wait! Last question! I am sure your fans would like to know. Please, Tamao-san, is there anyone making your heart flutter romantically at this time point in time?" One reporter shamelessly yelled to get the artist's attention.
Tamao's eyes widened with the sudden enquiry. For a split second, she tried to stop her steps and turned her head towards the crowd which caused her to lose her balance with her 4-inch stilettos. She would have been the latest laughingstock in the whole entertainment business if not for the pair of strong arms that held her on the waist to prevent her fall.
She looked up to only to meet the most reassuring eyes she has ever seen in her waking life.
"I got you." Yoh whispered. He clung to her until she regained her balance.
By this time, Anna's amber pupils were dilated like donuts. Her heart raced like a mad galloping stallion. She couldn't help but to analyse her husband's gestures and facial reactions.
Did his eyes just glow?
Why did it look so natural for him to instinctively loop his arm around that woman?
Wasn't that the same comforting smile he usually gives her?
Everybody else remained speechless for one full minute as the sweet event took place in front of the members of the media. The endless sound of shutters and camera lights dominated the scene.
As if everybody simultaneously woke-up from the momentary trance caused by the two parties, the incessant yelling of further inquiries resounded as they all moved towards the direction where Yoh and Tamao were being escorted to.
The video ended.
Anna remained staring at Jun's smartphone for a few more seconds with the most docile facade. Jeanne and Jun both gaped at her anxiously.
Truth is, she was never the unreasonable jealous type. Sure, she sometimes questioned the intentions of people, especially women, who lurked suspiciously within her husband's presence. Afterall, he was a fine man, and any opportunist will be willing to pounce at him if given the slimmest chance.
For the past couple of weeks, more rumours have been circulating involving her husband being caught-up in issues suggesting romantic involvement with their music agency's newest singer, but she has always shrugged it off.
There have been malicious photos, posts, and comments all over the internet. They never really delved into it as a couple, to be honest. It was never mentioned over breakfast or over dinner, which they now rarely shared due to busy schedules. However, she always gave Yoh 200% of her trust and never doubted his fidelity.
She never doubted, right?
The blonde forced a smile as she stood up from her seat. She was thankful for her humongous sunglasses that covered almost half of her face.
"Forget it, it's nothing."
"Anna."
She shook her head with a smile and addressed her two friends.
"I've told the waiter to put the tab on me for today's tea. I might need to drop by somewhere first, so you can go ahead to the gala. I'll see you there."
"Are you sure?"
She simply nodded.
The two women just sighed at her display of apathy. She then turned her back to walk off towards the restaurant's façade where a black Maybach was readily waiting for her.
As she sat in the comforts of her car's spacious back seat, deep thoughts started to flood her mind. She pulled out her phone from her handbag and looked-up Yoh's number. She stared at it for a few more seconds before deciding to send a message:
"Are you still at the gala? We can meet at the studio first as planned."
Her fingers impulsively tapped on a social media app icon whilst she waited for a reply, and she started browsing her news feed.
There were now numerous posts circulating the platform about the same video she just watched.
"Tamao-san is a goddess!"
"Aww, they look so good together.'"
"Asakura Yoh is the hottest drummer-slash-music producer in the entire planet. He can step on me anytime."
"Wait, what? Isn't he married?"
" AsakuraAnna please tell me this is not your husband."
Entertainment News Headlines: Drummer-songwriter has undeniable penchant for singing goddesses.
She forced her eyes shut and dropped her phone, screen down on her lap, as she drew a deep breath for the nth time.
'5… 4… 3… 2…'
"Apologies for the wait, Anna-sama." Her meditation exercise was interrupted by a man who just sat in the driver's seat. "Where are we headed, miss?"
The blonde looked at her phone helplessly.
No reply yet.
She casted her sight forward. "To the studio, please. Thanks, Amidamaru."
"Right away."
. . . . . . . . . . .
Faint footsteps echoed through the sophisticated marbled floors. Yoh stood together with Tamao and her manager at their recording agency's headquarters lobby.
The company gala continued its course inside the building, but Tamao's manager prompted her the need to leave the event due to her hectic schedule for the next day. It was also apparent that the singer was already getting tipsy from the mix of alcoholic drinks she has consumed while socialising.
Yoh, being the gentleman that he always was, escorted his colleague while she waited for her driver to bring the car at the front of the building to pick-her up and bring her to her hotel for the night.
Tamao stood in silence next to the male brunette. Her thoughts wandered back to the moment she heard a reporter asked her one particular question.
"…Tamao-san, is there anyone making your heart flutter romantically at this time point in time?"
She recalled that weird feeling she experienced when Yoh held her in his arms during her clumsy incident. The butterflies in her stomach were enough to make her choke on each air she breathed. The heat that came from his warm gaze was enough to make her burn in disorientation.
There was a strange and unknown feeling that was awakening within her for the past months ever since she met him, and it seemed to compel her not to stop. It obliged her to ask for more.
She blinked twice to shake it off.
The pink-haired woman side-glanced at the man who stood next to her. His hands in his pockets, looking forward ahead. His cheery countenance never leaving his face, and his charm acted like magnets that exuded a strong gravity, inevitably pulling every lifeforce towards liking him.
She absent-mindedly lifted her left hand, fist clutched into the middle of her chest as her heartbeat started to quicken up its pace. Tamao decided to break the silence.
"Are you planning to stay?"
Yoh shifted his sight towards her with a smile. "Yes, I'll meet-up with Anna later."
For some unknown reason, hearing her name caused a twinge in her heart. Why she felt that way was beyond her reason, but it felt as if she already had a stake buried in her heart, and it gets rammed deeper with each mention of the name: Anna.
"I see." The woman casted her eyes towards the shiny floor.
"Tamao-sama." A male voice started as they all looked at a man dressed in black and white.
"I'm sorry to inform you at such a late notice, but your car has been having issues. We were trying to fix it, but it looks like we will need to look for an on-call mechanic."
"Oh." Tamao looked-up worriedly.
"Oh no, I am pretty sure no other company vehicles and drivers will be available by this time. Do you want me to book you a taxi instead?" Her manager acted quickly.
She slowly nodded her head in response. "Uh, yeah, o—"
"It's fine, I can bring her."
Both Tamao and her manager looked at the brunette in shock.
"Haven't you consumed alcohol as well? Is it safe for you to drive?"
Yoh shook his head. "I haven't consumed more than the safe driving limit. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to have a celebrity like her take a taxi in this… condition. And the hotel isn't too far from here, right?"
The two ladies nodded.
"Alright then, let's go." He encouraged with an innocent smirk.
They all motioned towards the elevator that will bring them to the basement parking. Yoh felt something vibrate around his torso and so he retrieved his mobile phone from his jacket's inner pocket. He saw his Anna's message flashed through his screen, and he contemplated for a few seconds.
An involuntary sigh escaped his mouth as he replied to the text before proceeding with his venture.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Heavy eyelids started to droop but long curly lashes fluttered repeatedly at the quirky sound of a message tone.
Anna was summoned back from snooze land when she heard the familiar sound from her mobile that rested on her lap while being held loosely by her left hand. They were still on the road. The heavy traffic consumed all their free time which were now spent with travelling. Several beams of white and yellow illuminated her face as the vehicle run past the busy streets of Tokyo.
She lifted her phone to read the message, squinting at the bright blue light it emitted.
It was him.
Hey, Anna. Sorry, change of plans. Might need to meet Ren at his apartment now. Text me when you reach the gala, ok? Love you.
Her face remained emotionless. Nothing was out of the ordinary. He texted as how he usually did.
However, something was not right. There was something else that creeped from within the depths of her gut. Something she could not quite put her finger at.
Was this what they have always called 'women's intuition?'
The car finally halted, and this prompted her to look outside the window. It was now dark, and they were parked in front of the recording company's headquarters.
"We've reached our destination, Anna-sama."
"Thank you. I won't be too long."
"Please take all the time you need, miss."
She was supposed to meet Yoh at the recording studio but since he notified of his change of plans, she will now make her way towards the auditorium where the gala was being held. A 'swoosh' sound escaped her phone confirming that her reply to Yoh's message was sent, notifying him of her arrival at the event.
Anna stepped out of the car as the driver opened the door for her. Her luck slightly dwindled when they noticed some paparazzi waiting outside the building. They left her little amount of personal space when they started their usual approach, but thanks to Amidamaru, they kept them at bay.
If she was completely being herself, she would not lift a finger just to attend the gala full of superficial people who kept engaging in socially awkward conversations. She was never good with crowds except from she was performing on stage. And if it wasn't for the sake of her and Yoh's public image, then she would be happily lounging in her bed wrapped in the security of her husband's embrace by this time.
Now she would have to endure at least 30 minutes of social torture to keep a snob image of her away from people's minds, at the very least.
Her long blonde locks bounced graciously when she greeted one person to another as she roamed the room. Heads craned towards her direction to appreciate her ethereal beauty whenever she walked past. The contents of the buffet table were the only things that piqued her interest and she made it her personal mission to reach it without having to participate in any senseless dialogue with more strangers.
Anna managed to sequester some light snacks from the grazing spread, and she thanked her luck after spotting some familiar faces from across the extensive hall. Sharing some pleasantries with some of the company's executives along the way, she approached some of her husband's friends from the far corner of the room.
They asked why she did not arrive with Yoh to the gala. She mentioned about him meeting with Ren in his apartment. She caught them throwing cryptic looks at each other but not daring to say anything to her. She chose not to comment on it either. A waiter approached their group offering champagne-filled flutes set in a round tray. She only raised her hand with a polite smile to decline the offer.
Yoh's friends knew that he and Anna were recently under hot topic involving inappropriate rumours. All they wanted was not to add fuel to the searing fire. None of them believed Yoh will be able to commit such obscenity, anyway. From how they knew their friend, was just… too pure for that.
Finally, Anna excused herself from the group in preparation to leaving the gala. She bid them all a lovely goodnight and each familiar person gave her a light cheek-to-cheek peck, wishing her to take care.
She slowly turned her heels the other way when she felt a hand grab her wrist. She looked at the culprit and saw her friend, Jun, with a pained expression on her face.
"Jun! What on Earth!?"
"Shh! Come with me."
It was a surprise how she let herself be dragged to the nearest corner by her buddy, but before she could throw in any words of protests, Jun stopped the motion and faced her with a continuous sullen expression.
"What is this about?"
"Look, Anna, I swear I really don't want to be the bearer of bad news but, I guess I have the responsibility to look out for you as your friend…"
The blonde just remained silent, and Jun groaned.
"Here, this was posted only 40 minutes ago." The older woman handed her a smartphone; an article posted on the entertainment news' social site was readily opened.
Anna did not find the need to read the whole story as several candid photos of her husband escorting a familiar woman in a familiar hotel lobby caught her sight.
All reason left her now spinning head.
"Jun, do you know where Ren is?"
"Not sure, but I left Jeanne near the lobby earlier. Why do you ask?"
How she traversed half of the auditorium in just a few hurried strides was beyond her logic. Jun tried to calm her down and offered to accompany her, but she declined. She was not even sure where she should start, but all she knew was that her heart was so desperately ramming through her chest in dangerous levels and her gasping for air has become more laboured. The tightening feeling in her bosom got more uncomfortable as she tried to repeatedly call her husband to end all the paranoia; to cease all the malice, but to no avail.
All her calls went unanswered. She started texting Yoh to ask where he was. She felt stupid for thinking of calling her other good friend, Ren, Jun's younger brother, just to rule out her growing suspicions.
The exit was now conveniently located a few steps in front of her and she raised her right hand, ready to push the heavy wooden door, when somebody else swung it open and she almost collided with the person if not for his quick reflexes. Her sight came face-to-face with piercing golden eyes. A man with an intimidatingly attractive aura stood next to her, gently grabbing her shoulders to steady her gait.
"Ren?" Anna had her eyes wide open in surprise.
"Anna? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
"What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean what am I doing here? Yoh invited me to come, as far as I remember. I told him I wasn't going at first, but guess I changed my mind."
"You were supposed to be with Yoh."
"I thought he was with you."
Anna opened her mouth to say something when she heard her phone beep signalling a new message was received. She hurriedly checked her inbox. Finally, a reply.
Sorry I missed your calls. Here with Ren now. Talk to you later.
She suddenly felt lightheaded. The sounds and visuals playing around her slowly ebbed away from her senses' reach and the only thing she could focus on was her deep, staggered breaths.
Why was he lying?
What was he trying to hide?
Who is he with?
"Anna. Anna!" Ren's voice rang in her ears, breaking her mini panic attack. She fought so hard to prevent tears from falling.
"Hey, are you alright? You look… pale." Ren continued; worry etched on his face as he gently held her arms.
"I—I'm fine. I just—I need to go."
She pushed herself to regain composure as if nothing happened. This quick change in attitude baffled her male friend but before he could question her about the situation, she faced him with full determination on her face.
"Ren, I need your help."
After asking him for a quick favour, she was long gone behind the exit doors.
. . . . . . . . . .
"Can we expect a reunion from the band soon?"
"Would you now care to comment regarding the speculations that the true reason behind ending your band's almost 7-year domination streak 2 years ago, was a love triangle fiasco within the group?"
The aggressive sound of car horns blasting over the background shook him from his flashback. The words sounded so real; he had to grab the steering wheel tighter as he tried his best not to swerve wildly on the road.
He stole an abrupt glance towards the sleeping figure of the woman seated in his passenger seat. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, yet an unsettling feeling lingered in his stomach as guilt seeped through his conscience.
He wasn't proud of himself for lying to his wife about his current whereabouts. However, the overwhelming thoughts and emotions that invaded him lately were enough to supress the logical, decision-making parts of his brain.
So, just as his testosterone-fuelled judgment suggested, the first step needed to be done to control the situation was to hide the truth from Anna.
'What she doesn't know won't hurt her, right?'
His thoughts once again wandered around his wife. Not that she ever left his mind, anyway.
Hearing about the resurfacing rumours from the past was so uncomfortable, it hurt to reminisce some of the long-repressed emotions he tried so hard to bury in the dark.
He saw her standing quietly in front of the bathroom mirror wearing nothing but her loose burgundy silk robe. The colour of the fabric complimented her rosy, white skin. This was her defenceless, unadulterated form away from the limelight, and he always wondered what he did so right in this lifetime to deserve her as his wife.
It was also probably his luck that her eyes were shut peacefully, giving him the chance to sneak up on her from behind to deliver his warm embrace. He could tell the success of his surprise from the little flinch he felt from her shoulders, but she was too dignified to even open her eyes and admit defeat.
Instead, she tilted her head to the right and rested the weight of her back on his bare, sturdy chest. His hands gradually snuck to meet the delicate curve of her waist surrounding her torso, and her hands moved instinctively resting above his arms.
He took this as a positive cue for intimacy. An invitation to romance.
Yoh's instincts led his face towards his wife's left temple taking a waft of her fragrant hair, planting soft fluttering kisses down to her cheek, her jaw, and at the spot behind her earlobe. He darted his tongue and ran it further the vertical length of her neck. Finding the sensitive spot connecting the base oh her nape and shoulder, his teeth managed a playful nip on her pliable flesh which earned him an unsuppressed moan from her sultry lips.
His mouth ready to claim hers with so much fervour as his hands made their way to caress her thighs, bunching the hem of her short robe upwards in the process when… she abruptly opened her eyes with hands grabbing his own to stop his advances.
She was catching her breath, but she stared at him indifferently via the mirror in front of them. He watched her exhale thoroughly that made him gulp his saliva in the process.
"I'm tired, Yoh. Let's go to sleep." Anna declared mercilessly, avoiding his questioning gaze.
Drowned in confusion, his wife left him alone and defeated.
"I asked her to marry me."
It wasn't even a question. It was just a simple declaration, yet something stirred inside of him that made him desperate for an answer. Something to assure him that he wasn't talking to himself all alone.
"So, the ring that I saw on her finger tells me that she said yes?"
It was a question, but a rhetorical one. It was the kind of speech that warranted answers but didn't necessarily need some.
He peeked through his arm that was tucked between the back of his head and the ground as he glanced sideways to see his older brother's face. Both were lounging casually on the grass-laden earth of their backyard, watching the magnificent twinkling gems above them known as the stars.
Hao had the most baffling appearance while he looked ahead. His lips curved into a smile, yet his eyes, the eyes that almost mirrored his own at certain times, seemed to bear an insurmountable amount of sadness upon hearing the news. It would be so confusing for a stranger to witness this kind of view and it would be easy for others to misunderstand his brother's duality.
But he knew him well and his façade of fake calm will never trick him.
He was his twin, and they always had this invisible connection that enabled them to peek into each other's hearts without the need for words. And because of this, he felt a hard lump stuck in his chest.
The older brunette took a last puff from his cigarette before settling it inside an empty beer bottle beside him. He took his time in exhaling the smoke from his mouth as if he was trying to release all the tension from the world.
Yoh watched Hao as he pushed himself to sit up, taking another bottle of alcohol and raising it towards his direction, offering a toast. His smile broadened.
"Then I'll be the greatest best man you can ever have."
He shuddered at his memories.
He couldn't even remember the last time he made love with his wife, and he certainly disliked recalling that moment when he felt like the worst brother in the universe.
With a deep sigh, Yoh slowly lifted his forehead which was initially pressed onto his steering wheel. He gently nudged Tamao's shoulder to rouse her from her slumber when he saw the hotel usher already sauntering to approach them.
They both exited his vehicle and he handed the car keys towards the valet attendant.
Yoh good-naturedly escorted his colleague all the way to her hotel room, but not after spotting some suspicious characters lurking from the lobby. His experience told him that they were members of the paparazzi who gave little regard for personal space when it comes to celebrities like them, but he could not care less.
In his reason, he was not doing anything wrong, so why bother explaining?
While waiting for the elevator doors to open, he felt his phone vibrate from his pocket. He glanced at the notifications— 4 missed calls, and 1 message all from his wife asking where he was and he replied with another 'white lie', telling her that he has just met Ren. His golden-eyed friend told him earlier that he was not planning to attend the gala, so it was the safest alibi.
Or so he thought.
A part of him told him to leave. As the elevator ascended each level towards their destination, a voice within screamed for him to stop what he was doing and just walk away. Run away and never look back.
But he stood his ground. Like a lost little lamb, he kept wandering towards the dark, ready to meet the wolves that will cause his untimely demise.
He helped Tamao carry some of her belongings in the process. He knew they could've easily asked for assistance form the hotel attendants, but doing it gave him an unexplainable boost to his ego. Accompanying a beautiful woman to a hotel room despite the presence of nosy spectators renewed the manly side of his pride. It satisfied the need for validation. It fulfilled the urge to protect.
He was not doing anything wrong, so why bother explaining?
They finally reached the suite.
He settled her things at the mini foyer, not far away from the door and he stood there, unmoving, respecting her space.
His female companion was still showing signs of intoxication and to be honest, he never felt the effects of the alcohol he drank earlier until now that he is in an environment conducive for rest. Everything in that room seemed relaxing. Not to mention that king-sized bed a few metres away from him looked undoubtedly inviting.
"So, I guess that's everything. Need help anything else?"
The woman gently shook her head whilst looking down at the carpeted floor.
"Alright, rest well tonight. See you at the studio tomorrow." Yoh motioned to leave but a hand deftly grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Wait. Maybe it's best that I serve you coffee before you go. You look tired and… there's alcohol in your system and…" Tamao looked up to face him directly with earnest eyes.
He stood motionless in his spot as he returned her gaze, stalling for time, searching for reason. His eyes softened and his head nodded as he closed the door to the room, with both of them inside.
The brunette followed the pink-haired woman inside the suite as she walked towards the kitchenette to prepare the hot beverage for him. He sat in one of the plush armchairs and he felt the weight of exhaustion suddenly enveloped him like stacks of heavy blankets. Faint light emanated from the wall lamps attached to the corners of the room. The warm yellowish bulbs only provided vision within a limited area, giving off an almost romantic glow.
For some reason, he got drawn into studying her back while he waited for her to finish with the task. His eyes trailed from her soft long pink hair, down to her dainty shoulders, then to the curve of her back, then— he closed his eyes and immediately averted his gaze towards other objects within the vicinity. The large plain vase which sat at the corner suddenly became interesting, along with the curtains that draped elegantly across the wide windows; and the bed, the bed was inviting, it was…
He stood up quickly as he made his resolve to finally take his leave. "You know it think I should—"
"Here you go!" The woman cut his sentence off as she strode across the room and clumsily handed him the coffee mug.
They were both startled as the warm liquid splashed against Tamao's dress. He apologised frantically for miscalculating the distance between them. Thus, his hand blindly knocking off the cup when he motioned to stand earlier.
She chuckled timidly and reassured him that it's fine, still handing him the cup to drink the remaining contents at least. Tamao excused herself to the bathroom to change her clothes, and he agreed to finish the coffee as he sat back in his seat.
Glancing at the watch on his left hand, he closed his eyes as he gulped the rest of the liquid from the cup.
'Just walk away. Run away and never look back.'
His wife's ethereal face flashed into his mind when he briefly closed his eyes, and it was enough to bring his determination back in finally bidding farewell to his current companion. However, he stopped dead in his tracks when he felt delicate fingers touch his hands.
He blinked his eyes open only to meet a set of deep magenta irises staring at his own with deep yearning. She was slightly leaning down towards him as she took the empty mug away from his hands and settled it down the side table next to them, eyes not leaving his.
Yoh subconsciously licked his lips as he realised that she was simply in her underwear. Her nude-coloured bra fully exposed, and the remaining parts of her dress dangled onto her waist, the bottom part barely covering her legs.
No words were spoken as she leaned in closer, placing the palm of her right hand onto his chest, and her right knee making its way onto the space between his legs.
All inhibitions seemed to fade away as Yoh's hands reached to rest on her shoulders, deftly pulling her towards him.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Long blonde hair fluttered wildly as its bearer sauntered in quickened steps. The sound of her heels resonated within the hotel's stylishly decorated corridors.
Thinking of all the possible outcomes for the current situation, she still hoped deep within her heart that her husband had a coherent and valid reason for lying to her. That she was only being paranoid, the recent speculations were only rubbing off on her. That he is not in a hotel room together with another woman, doing only the gods knows what.
She wanted to trust him. She wanted to keep her solid and unspoken faith for her soulmate. But she also felt the need to validate her instincts.
She turned left at the end of the hallway; her thoughts lost on how she got to where she is now.
Anna approached the reception with an unwavering air of authority. Panic creeped into the faces of the hotel attendants as they realised who she was. Whether it was because she was a celebrity or because they knew her husband, who just happened to check-in with another woman in their hotel, she will never know. She didn't have time to investigate further. All she needed was to gain access to the room where her Yoh is, and everybody can continue living in peace.
"Please give me the room number assigned to Tamamura Tamao." The hotel staff looked at each other with uncertainty. One attendant opened her mouth to speak but Anna cut her off. "And instead of reciting your policies and procedures about privacy and confidentiality, call your manager…" she raised her phone in her hand to show the now confused staff member, "…I have the CEO of the hotel corporation waiting over the line."
Her pace decelerated and it was not long until her steps came into a halt.
Tired feet now stood in front of a door displaying the numbers previously provided by the manager. The hotel staff offered to escort her with the 'mission', but she refused adamantly. She wasn't going to bring more witnesses to an igniting drama.
She inhaled a thick amount of air and expelled it in one huff. She raised her right hand, ready to ring the bell to call the room occupant's attention when the door rapidly swung open, the entity exiting the room almost colliding with her in blinding speed.
The whole scenario played in sluggish waves when Anna found herself disbelievingly staring into a familiar set of deep brown eyes held by a towering presence before her.
All her senses blurred into oblivion and the last thing she heard was her name being called by the one person closest to her heart.
. . . . . . . . . . .
A/N: ROMANCE IS DEAD! HA!LOL.
This stemmed from an emotional fanfic wip which I have written not long ago. I originally planned it to be a one-shot, but I guess my emotions got the better of me.
Worry not, for I have already finished the story draft and plan to update every Monday night AEST. I know that it hurts to see our OTP like this, but the main idea was to get them as close as possible to experiencing the two sides of marriage—the good and the bad. And as much as I hate to taint Yoh's 'perfect hubby' image, I have this recent fixation on wanting to see his pure character somewhat, 'corrupted' and the challenges he shall face to redeem himself. XD
Aaand, before you start despising my existence in this world, please trust the fact that I am still a devoted OTP shipper so kindly give it a chance and hold on to the sweet promise of delayed gratification. Such perfect timing for Osorezan Revior November, yes?
So, what do you think? Like? Hate? Continue? Drop dead? Huehuehue!
See you next week! *blows kisses of bittersweet love* ;3
Italics represent multimedia content/ thoughts of characters/ flashbacks/ foreign words. I hope I did not make it too confusing.