*Disclaimer I do not own Ouran Host Club, and never will.
Back In Our World
Chapter 13 Twins in the city.
Hikaru's POV
Lifting my ginger head to see a fully shining orb against a bright blue fall sky hovering over my head. With a blown up picture from Kaoru's phone laced between my fingers I trudged the tree lined sidewalks of the beautiful strange city.
Earlier this morning …
A little after the flaming ball illuminated the dark expansive sky I arrived and checked into the Broadway suite on the top floor. Stepping through the door with an entire team of various hotel employees busily whirling throughout the suite to settle me in before the door closes behind them. With a long sigh my ginger head tilts back against the closed room taking a moment to immerse myself into the stilled silence.
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Lifting a hand to run my fingers through my hair while my craved quiet timeout causes my emotional exhausted head to reel. Why the hell am I even here? I'm over her ….right? She was so long ago. After my so called former friend left his little file…everything else was a blur. One minute I'm calling my secretary to prep the jet and the next minute I'm here. So does this mean I was never over her…that I've just been lying to myself this entire time?
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I really didn't want an answer to my questions… it's just too painful.
Perhaps, it's just the Hitachiin's incessant curiosity for what fate had written out for my friend. Of course after the meeting with the deceitful Shadow king whatever happened to her I believe had little to do with fate and more to do with our former club president and vice president. Of course that's not really news, we always suspected as much, the only difference is now it's been confirmed …and just by knowing the fact I at least wanted to speak with her, maybe set matters right. Even if she doesn't want to have anything to do with us ….. Call it one last chapter that needed to be written so I can end the story, and finally close the book forever.
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With my last passing thought I lift my golden eyes to observe the elegant, although conservative neutral colored room with splashes of crimson and gold tucked here and there. Ignoring my jet lag body and the king sized bed with the golden silk bedspread. I instead peel my body away from the door and toss my coat and bag on to the cream couch before purposely walking to the bathroom.
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I jumped into a steaming hot shower and changed my clothes before heading out. Ignoring the loss of sleep while I slam down a coffee I picked up from the hotel's lavish lobby. I figured I would be better served on foot in my search. From what I observed out my window from earlier, the sleepy city was somewhat large and rather ordinary. It was nothing like the size of the likes of Tokyo, or New York. So you would think tracking down a drag queen show in the middle of downtown would be relatively simple. I mean it's the Pacific Northwest there contribution to pop culture is grudge, sportswear, plaid flannel, and oh and a location for a 10 year old sparkling vampire movie. …..but that's where I made my mistake.
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It only took me minutes walking the grey pavement to notice these stickers plastered everywhere with the city's slogan scrolled over all of them. "Keep Portland weird" And that's exactly what my eyes were seeing against the spectacular view of a snowy capped mountain. The unusual city not only had everyday commuters dressed as cross dressers but guys riding bikes in nothing but a safety helmet….and if you ever get the chance to see a naked man riding a bicycle, do yourself a favor and look away. I swear that image is permanently burned into my head, and it's not a pretty one.
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Present time….
With aching feet and a slightly painful grumbling feeling coming from my stomach I lift my wrist to check the time. No wonder, it's rapidly approaching lunch time. I spent hours pounding the pavement with nothing to show for my efforts as I begin to head back to the hotel to grab some lunch. There has to be a better way to track down an over the hill Japanese drag queen. Before flying out I tried to act like my brother and call the P.I that sent the picture to him but I was only able to get his voicemail, apparently he was out of the country.
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One other person came to mind that might be able to answer a question or two. Reaching into my pocket as my fingers fidget with my phone while internally debating whether I should make the call. By making this call I could be opening up to people and feelings I've slammed the gates on …..Years ago.
As I consider the ramifications my feet carry me to the Embassy Suites. Seeing there's a small bistro relatively empty I decide to take a seat in the outdoor seating area to grab some lunch. Begrudgingly I pull my phone out to swipe my finger across the glass to search my old contacts. My thumb hesitantly hovers over the button, giving me one last time to reconsider. Letting out a heavy sigh I make the call. "Hello, this is Hikaru Hitachiin I would like to please speak with Mitsukuni Haninozuka or "Honey" if you prefer…..Yes, I'll wait Thank you."
End of Hikaru's POV
Kaoru's POV
"We are coming to you live from the Rose Garden arena located in the center of Rip city. The Portland Trail Blazers are up by only one basket against the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter ….Folks it's anybody's ballgame…"
Some kind of sporting event vaguely echoes in my ears and pulls me to a conscious state. My head throbs as I manage to crack an eye to a blinding light shining through white sheers. A long graveled groan is released from my lips as I gingerly attempt to turn my sore and tender body on to my back. Slowly lifting my hand to my achy head to shield my eyes from the intense light. My hazy eyes gradually open to see a fuzzy image of a woman sitting in the chair across from a bed I'm lying on, in an unfamiliar room.
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Ah fuck who the hell is she? Fabulous…. I must have drank more of that pink concoction then I thought ….and went home with her. Wait, how did I manage…. the last thing I remember is being used for a punching bag. When did I meet her?
"Hey buddy, are you finally awake?" Came a deep masculine voice from the fuzzy image.
"Ranka?" Grasping on hope I force the words out from my lungs.
"Ah, no. Don't you remember, it's Daniel?"
Wait, I was drunk, beaten up and went home ….with a strange guy? Hika is going to kill me! My eyes go wide as my hands frantically search around my body ….and with a sigh of relief I feel I'm fully dressed in last night's clothes. When it comes to sleeping with other males Hika and I are kind of exclusive …..Now sleeping with women that's an entirely different matter.
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A blonde bohemian like drag queen with a long flowing red skirt chuckles while lifting a remote to turn off the game that is playing on the flat screen facing the bed. "Relax, nothing happened you're not my type ….. Komatsu sent me."
"Ah …who?" Blinking my eyes several times in an attempt to clear my vision.
"Your private investigator…A short Japanese guy, he acts like he walked straight out of an old detective movie." The man picks up a half of a sandwich and takes a bite.
"Oh, yeah, him…..I'm sorry, where am I exactly?"
The drag queen swings his feet around to lift up from his chair and walks to a bar to get a glass of water. "Boy, I didn't think you were hit in the head but you were pretty out of it when I found you in the back alley, so that might be why you can't remember much."
"Wait, you found me?" Slowly lifting my pained body into a sitting position on the bed.
"Ah…. Yeah…. Sorry about that, you see by the time I received Komatsu's message it was too late, they already had taken you to the backroom. So, I really couldn't do anything until they tossed you out of the club's back door. After that you were coherent enough to point to your driver and tell me which hotel you were staying at. Luckily you had already paid for the room so all you had to do is pick up the keycard at the front desk…and that's why we find ourselves here at the moment.
"Ahhh, well thanks for helping me."
The drag queen hands me a glass of water and a small sealed packet of Tylenol. I cautiously look at the packet. "Relax, I ordered these from room service, along with a sandwich. Komatsu thought you wouldn't mind." Daniel motions with a nod with his head to his half eaten sandwich next to his empty chair.
"Ah, no it seems the very least I could do for my rescuer." Ripping open the red packet of round white pills before popping them into the back of my throat. Feeling the bitter tasting pills slowly dissolve on my tongue I lift the cool drink of water to my lips.
"Thank you." I tenderly nod my head and hand him the almost empty glass of water.
Daniel takes the glass and walks over to the bar to place it into the sink. "So you're the big mucky muck from Japan that's looking for Haruhi?"
"Wait, you know her?!" Forgetting about my splitting headache I abruptly whip my head around to see Daniel.
The drag queen shrugs his shoulders while walking back to his seat. "I know of her, I've really only met her the one time and that was pretty difficult with papa bear hanging around…So what, you're some kind of jilted ex-lover?"
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Plopping down in his seat with his sandwich held in his fingers. Daniel shakes his head and gives me a disapproving look. "I really don't understand your kind….. but hey, I make a living wearing women's clothing so who am I to judge? Frankly, I don't really see the appeal, with my partners I prefer at least a little interaction. Having them just lay there can't be much fun…Tell me is it all about control, like a domineering preference?" The drag queen takes a large bite after he speaks.
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"Ah, what? No, she's not an ex-lover ….she's just a girl I knew in high school. Where are you getting this ex-lover nonsense?" My hand immediately finds its way to the side of my sore head after I snapped at the drag queen.
"I just assumed when I saw the pictures she was cheating on you."
"Pictures, what pictures?" I grumbled out my words.
"The ones I picked up off the backroom floor when they were huffing you out the back. I figured since you were a high mucky muck they might be worth something to you." He tosses a familiar looking file full of glossy 8 x 10's fly through the air to land next to my sock covered feet, on my bed.
My golden eyes fell on the worn looking file that makes my already pained stomach twist. "You would be right ….just give Komatsu the bill, I'll be sure to add something extra for helping me out last night. Oh, hey Daniel did Haruhi ever show up last night?"
The blonde shakes his head. "No, sorry, she never did."
"Well thanks, anyway." Grumbling out in a depressed tone.
Daniel finishes off his sandwich before speaking. "Hey, if she does show up, Komatsu gave me your number, but judging by Ranka's reaction to your visit I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't show up for work."
Daniel's words shatter my heart as I've lost the closest and probably only lead I will ever find to Haruhi's whereabouts…..I've lost her for good.
"Hey Kaoru, do you need me to take you to the hospital or anything?" Breaking me out of my depressed thoughts.
I sadly shake my head as my eyes stay fixed on Ranka's file. "Ah no thank you, my body is sore but I think it's my head that hurts the most."
Oh, yeah, the "vengeful bridesmaid" does it every time." The drag queen lets out a few chuckles.
I lift my eyes from the file to give the blonde a confused look. "The vengeful what?"
"Your drink, it's the bartenders little name for that particular kind of drink. To the customers it's called the Pink tropical holiday…but it's usually ordered by some pissed off bridesmaid to be given to the upcoming bride for some reason or another…Your just lucky you didn't drink anymore then you did."
Daniel quickly rises from his seat and begins to walk to the door. "Since my services are no longer required I think I'll hit the road. My shift will be starting in a couple of hours. No need for you to get up, I'll show myself out."
"Uh, yeah, thanks for your help."
"Oh it's not a problem if you need to get a hold of me I left my number paper clipped to the file." The drag queen gives out a small wave before shutting the door behind him.
With the click of the door my head falls back onto my pillow as my heart continues to break. Tossing an arm over my eyes while my thoughts trail to Ranka's words.
"…..Once I arrived I found my little girl broken, huddled in a corner of her apartment ….Caused by her so called best friends turning their backs on her."
"With no recommendation from the school and the remaining nearly failing grades they so graciously and I believe, intentionally issued her that torpedoed her spotless GPA. She found it nearly impossible to further her education."
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Damn it, if what Ranka said is true, which he or Haruhi have never given me any reason to not believe him. Which means Kyoya not only wanted her out of the way but did so vengefully….leaving her with nothing , not even all her hard work from school. I just can't see Tamaki doing such a thing, even if she cheated on him…and why would she suddenly cheat on him? For Pete's sakes he looks like a Greek god. For what, a couple of most likely everyday students? None of it adds up. The only thing that does is I've been right all along…. Our privileged world crushed her.
My heart begins to echo out more of last night's painful words….
"I'm not even sure you rich bastards are even capable of the emotion you're so freely talking about."
"Ranka that is where you're so utterly wrong." My miserable words softly leave my lips as small streams of liquid roll from my covered face beneath my arms.
End of Kaoru's POV
Hikaru's POV
Silently resting my silverware on my simple white plate with the remaining bites of my shrimp Carbonara, I gracefully pull my napkin from my lap and dab my mouth. Gently tossing my napkin on the plate before quickly standing from my chair. Reaching out a hand to button my suit jacket and pick up my bill from the edge of the table.
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Not wanting to wait for my server I walk inside to pay my bill. When I get to the back of the line a blonde woman swings her head back in my direction. Instead of giving me a flirty smile she gives me the strangest look and begins to strike up a conversation. "I see someone is feeling brave shouldn't you be in bed? Well, if you can eat then you're on your way to a full recovery. Don't mind me I'm just here to grab a coffee and then I'm off to work." My eyes instantly go wide after hearing the deep voice as I realize she's a drag queen and a crazy one at that.
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I manage to give him an awkward smile but nothing comes out of my mouth.
Thankfully my phone vibrates in my pants pocket causing me to reach in to check who is calling. With a relieved smile on my lips I excuse myself from the line to find a deserted corner near a window to take my call, so not to disturb other customers.
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To my surprise the crazy blonde follows me, seeing this I gesture to my phone. When he continues to speak softly. "I mean it, if you need anything, while you're in town just call …I'm only a phone call away." He steps closer to me before slipping his card into my shirt pocket. "Here's my card, just in case you lose it." I just stood there gaping as the drag queen's long red skirt flared out as he left with his coffee.
"Hello….hello….. Hika-chan are you there?" An excited Honey calls out while I stand there with my mouth hanging open, dumbfounded at the blonde drag queen's crazy behavior.
Shaking my head as I hastily answer the phone. "Oh…Hey, Honey-sempi."
"Hika-chan is it really you?"
"Yes, Honey-sempi it's so nice to talk to you again….thank you for calling me back."
"Ah, how is Kao-chan? We haven't really talked since that day ….. "Honey's tone turns depressed as he speaks about the day Ranka vanished.
"Uh, he's well, he's in New York preparing for this year's fashion week. I'll give him your best." I avoid talking about that day and attempt to keep the conversation upbeat and polite….most importantly brief.
"Good I'm glad to hear he's keeping busy , ah Hika-chan speaking of that day I've been given an offer to sell her old apartment complex ….and I wouldn't normally even consider the offer but my wife thinks it's healthier….if I let her go . " Honey's depressed tone continues as he stumbles out his miserable words.
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Memories of my most favorite high school hang out came flooding back….most teens liked shopping …..Not me and Kaoru, we preferred Homework and Haruhi's tea and noodles …..Even though I could have done without the homework …then images from the last day begin to flood in and I immediately slam the door to those thoughts…. Even if I never build up enough courage to set foot in there again ….I just can't let it go …I can't bear to accidently drive by one day and find it changed or worst torn down…Besides I'm so close in finding her .
"Uh you know what, send me the offer and Kaoru and myself will buy you and Mori-sempi out."
"Oh, you don't have to do that, I'll just send you the title."
"No, no I insist, I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your wife."
"Well, okay, Hika-chan ….I can see why you and Koa-chan don't want to let her go. I'm not sure we all realized how truly deep all three of your feelings ran for each other …..Until it was too late …. But Hika-chan don't you think it's better if you let her go too?" Honey's voice was soft spoken and still a little depressed.
I tried …
"Ah, yeah, we're not ready… just yet." My heart clenched with my words. It's true I knew Kao wasn't remotely close ….but I thought I was finally over her and moving on with the others…. But after hearing about are old hangout something deep in my chest begins to burn hot to an almost unbearable pain.
"Well okay … anyway, about your question I had Chika-chan do some digging in our files and there's no one named James Smith …..But by going by your description and association to the Black Onion squad he did manage to find a James Chandler, He was trained by Chika-chan himself, he's from Liverpool, England.
"Thank you Honey-sempi…Did you have any luck on the rest?"
"Hika-chan, why do you want to know about Ritsu?"
"I can't go into it for the moment, I might be able to tell you something at a later date."
"Okay, it wasn't easy, your just lucky that one of Ritsu's top guys accepted a job offer from us a couple of years back .He says Kasanoda has two property's in the state of Oregon one a condo in Portland and a larger estate in Boring, Oregon.
"Boring? Who the hell would name a town that? Thanks, Honey sempi ...ah what's the addresses?"
"Hika-chan we were her friends too. Do you have any idea how awful it felt to not only loose Haru-chan but you and Kao-chan as well .I don't think you fully comprehend how badly it hurt...…..So here's the deal… You want the addresses, it's going to cost you." Dark Honey begins to show.
"Honey-sempi, I already said I would buy you out of the apartment building .What more do you want?" I'm a little thrown off guard as I'm not entirely sure where my old friend is going with the unexpected shift in conversation.
Honey chuckled at catching me off guard as he speaks. "Oh please, this isn't about money Hika-chan this is about time."
"Time?" Asking with a bit of confusion.
"Yep, you have to promise me a dinner date as soon as you're back in Japan."
"But"
"No buts Hika-chan, you want the addresses, we want back into your life….no more shutting us out." Honey firmly states.
Damn it, I knew he would want to slip through our gates…..We closed them because the person that drew us out completely devastated us as he just tossed away someone he was supposedly in love with ….if he could do that with her .How does he really feel about us?
Breathing out a heavy sigh. Well I've tried just looking for Ranka's work and all I have for my efforts is sore feet and a crazy drag queen's phone number. "Ok fine …I promise." Going against every emotional obstruction my brother and I have built since that day and begrudgingly agree to the older blond.
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Lifting my head I see the line is down to one person. Taking advantage I quickly step back into the back of the line .Tucking the phone between my cheeks I hand the casher my bill to ring up but of course the person found something wrong with my bill. The casher couldn't ring it up properly without the manager coming out with his damn key. Apparently, I ordered their special and they were going to overcharge me by a dollar and fifty cents. I stand in front of the counter in horror while helplessly watching my precious afternoon tick away while I wait for the manager to waddle out here for such a small amount, it wouldn't even buy a decent cup of coffee.
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To avoid the awkwardness of staring at the cashier I advert my eyes to the large display window at the front of the bistro. That's when my heart stops as I see the same chocolate eyes glance at the display in the window for just a quick second before continuing to walk. She casually walks pass the window with two large men on either side of her completely unaware of my presence just inside of the building.
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I attempt to hastily run out of the store when the cashier yells at me. "Excuse me sir you can't leave, you still need to cash out!" I abruptly turn around and jam my hand in my pocket to yank out my wallet. With two hands I hurriedly open my wallet to see nothing but Japanese currency. Swiftly searching through the bills my eyes find a bit of green. I quickly pull out the bill and slap it down on the counter. Whipping my entire body around to sprint out the door as the casher screams for me from the door. "Sir, this is way too much! What about your change?"
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Not given a rat's ass about the dollar and fifty cents or …for that matter the crisp hundred dollar bill I slapped down just moments ago to just get the hell out of there ! I didn't even bother to look back as I waved a hand while yelling back to the cashier. "Keep it!"
"Hika-chan …..Are you still there?"
Ignoring Honey calling out from my phone while my eyes frantically search for the girl. My golden eyes catch sight of her still walking, just three blocks ahead of me. My feet begin to fly across the pavement past endless parked cars to catch up with her. Biting my lip to keep me from yelling out her name. I had no idea if that would scare her away or not …no I just needed to catch up with her, to see her face to face.
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My heart drops as I see a black Cadillac escalade slowly slide into an open parking spot next to them. I watch in horror as she begins to step into the car, causing her name to rip from my lungs just a block away. After hearing my voice call out her name the two men leap into the car and slam the door shut. The black car abruptly peels out of the parking spot that cause whitish smoke to burn from the tires as they hastily drive away.
"Ah fuck ….damn it!" I curse between my teeth as I slowly stop running to watch the car quickly become smaller in the distance.
"Hika-chan are you there, what's wrong?" A panicked honey calls out of my phone.
"Ah, yeah, Honey sempi ….I just had a little drama….paying for my bill." Speaking while trying to catch my breath.
"Oh, Hika-chan you haven't changed a bit, so were still on for dinner when you get back?" Honey chuckles while speaking with excitement.
My disappointed eyes glare down the road of the Escalade's fleeting exit while sarcastically speaking to the blond. "Yeah, I'm a laugh a minute, sure Honey-sempi we can have dinner together."
"I can't wait to see you again! I will text both addresses to you shortly."
"Thanks Honey-sempi"
"Hika-chan …be careful...Ritsu was a nice guy in high school but who knows how he is now .After all he is the head of a Yukuza Family, some of his men can be a little rough …." Honey's voice trails off with concern.
With a heavy sigh I turn away from the road so I can head back to my hotel. "Yeah, I'm just beginning to see that."
End of Hikaru's POV
Kaoru's POV….
With only utter defeat and misery consuming me for the entire day I managed to drag myself out of bed. After I had made myself somewhat presentable I gathered my things and headed downstairs to check out, I had stayed as long as possible. My job was pulling me back in ….I was expected to be in New York by morning.
Two hours later 7 o'clock at night …
Hunched over a clear glass bar with my depressed head resting in my palm. My fingers carelessly balance on the top of a short glass, half empty of my preferred golden liquid. My slightly hazed head pays little attention to the empty glasses perched next to me. Letting out a depressed sigh while my miserable thoughts torment me.
The only thing I was ever going to manage to remember of the Rose city is of the one stunning red rose bud just bursting to bloom for the world to see …..Slip through my fingers. Darkly chuckling to myself as my hand lifts my glass to take a smooth swig of the golden liquid.
Our damn club, the so called gentlemen of elite society destroyed that ravishing flower to nothing. We watched the delicate flower's nutrients being stripped away. Tossed out in the blazing hot sun with not even a drop of water. To watch her velvet peddles begin to whether and turn a horrid rusty brown. First several petals fall but soon only a few remain huddled together.
Rich society comes along and blows against the remaining petals causing the last few to slip from the stem. Trying to save the remaining dry petals I desperately throw out a hand to only have them flutter through my bumbling fingers. Jerking back my head to take another drink causes the chunk of ice to brush against my lips.
We destroyed her.
A plain white mug of black tar like coffee slides in front of me, breaking me from my guilty thoughts.
"Hey Buddy take it from someone who has seen plenty of miserable people walk in that door and attempt to drink away their problems ….it doesn't work." A tall bartender who rather resembles Mori through my somewhat hazed vision stands before me.
I scoff at the man before arrogantly speaking. "What makes you think I have a problem?"
"Call it bartender intuition …..That and you've been sitting in that chair for the last several hours….nursing three scotches."
"Yeah well …whatever." I shrug a shoulder while obverting my eyes away from him.
The bartender leans into me as he nudges the coffee closer. "Here's a clue….. I'm usually right, it's in the contract I signed when I became a bartender …..So what's bothering you ….love or work?"
My fingers feel the heat radiate from the ceramic cup. "I almost managed to track down an old friend …..But she just slipped through my fingers."
"So a love issue." The Mori look alike removes my two empty glasses.
Letting out a heavy sigh before speaking in a self-loathing tone. "Yep, and I completely blew it."
"Well, I think you should have some of this and it might not seem as bad." The bartender motions to the coffee.
"Pff, I already tried the sober rout …..It's even worse…... But I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a cup." Bringing the black liquid to my lips.
"Oh that's just foul, how can you call that coffee?" Setting the cup down harshly as I brush the substance from my lips.
"Yeah, sorry about that, for some reason this hotel has really crappy coffee?"
"How can you even serve that?" Making a face as I push the cup back towards the man.
"Well if you want some really good coffee there's a little place a few blocks down that serves a pretty good cup." The bartender takes the rejected cup to pour out the liquid as he sets it in the sink.
"Yeah, maybe your right …I need to catch my plane anyway….uh thanks for shoving me out the door."
"That's why they pay me the big bucks." The tall man gives me a polite smile before running a damp cloth across the glass bar.
Lifting my short tan trench coat from the next stool. I slide my arms into the golden silk lining before reaching into my worn jeans pocket. Pulling a folded stack of bills from my pocket to tip the bartender. The man basically pushed me out of the bar to face my problems. Instead of hiding from them in the bottom of an empty bottle.
With a small smile I start to flip through my folded stack of green. Picking several of my largest bills before sliding them to the Mori look alike. "You know, tonight you really did earn the big bucks." Not waiting for a response, I head to the exit of the hotel.
I still felt like crap and I was absolutely not going to remember this trip with any kind of fondness but I needed to catch my flight. It wouldn't be particularly prudent of me to face my responsibilities with an enormous hangover the next morning…..and failing at my job would not cause this miserable feeling to suddenly vanish …besides she would be disappointed in me if I did.
Poking my head out of the lobby door to see the drenched city set under a dark night sky. Reaching up I tug my collar up against my neck to finally walk from my hotel .Seeing my driver parked next to the entrance I purposely walk up to the window to knock against the dark glass .
The startled man fumbles with his newspaper as he lowers his window. "Sir, I'm sorry is your door locked?"
"Ah no, I'm just going to walk down a few blocks and get a coffee before we head for the airport."
His brown eyes glance up towards the angry, dark sky. "Sir would you like me to drive you? "
With large raindrops splatting against my ginger head I wave a dismissive hand towards the confused driver. "No, I think the cold, damp air will clear my head."
With brown disbelieving eyes he asks with an incredulous tone. "Sir you're ….going to walk in the rain…at night?"
"Yep, but follow me, so once I get there you can swing in and pick me up. Then we'll head straight for the airport."
"Ah, yes sir."
With that I make my way to the small coffee spot the bartender informed me about. Taking a long chilled breath of air to clear my scotch hazed head. Feeling the cold drops begin to slide down my back I quickly extend my two hands on either side of my tan collar. Giving it a good snap, to pull it tightly against my neck. I turn my head to see if anyone else is out in this miserable night when my eyes fall on a large group of various colored umbrellas standing at a bus stop. It actually looks sort of pretty, almost like a group of upside down tulips.
All of a sudden the sky opens up with a torrent of water pouring on top of me. Shoving my hands in my pockets with my head down to stare at the wet pavement that passes under my shoes. The heavier rain causes me to quicken my pace to the coffee shop while navigating between the developing puddles.
Moments later….
With my hand against the handle of the glass door I stroll out of the coffee shop with swirls of steam emerging from the top of my newly purchased large mocha. I quickly lift the cup to my lips causing the caffeinated liquid to warm my insides. My chilled hands wrap around the heated cup while standing under the dark green awning, that's just barely shielding me from the heavy rain. A shiver runs over my shoulders causing me to rethink the whole walk a few blocks in the rain to clear my head idea. My head was now plenty clear but also entirely drenched. Peering out into the darkness I turn my head in the direction of where the car should be coming from. Lifting my heated drink to my lips as I glance around looking for my driver. I notice all but one of the umbrellas has left the bus stop.
My steaming cup crashes against the pavement causing the light brown liquid to burst from the cup.
… but at the moment I could care less as I sprint blindly into busy traffic. Various beaming headlights shine against the rain covered pavement while swerving to just barely miss me. Heavy rain drops slide down my face to mix with my streaming tears. With every quicken footfall my Italian loafers slip causing boisterous horns to blow pass my rapidly moving body.
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I'm unable to take a breath as I arrive at a pair of round astonished chocolate eyes to suddenly wrap my arms around her tightly. My heart beats frantically for the only woman I've so desperately yearned to hold in my arms. The overwhelming feeling causes me to crash down on her lips while gently lifting a tender hand to slide in the back of her hair …..At the incredible moment I felt time stand still …As I finally kiss her soft, sweet lips for the first time.
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Begrudgingly I allowed time to continue as I pull away from her lips. To look at her astonished chocolate eyes. Her stunned words fell softly from her freshly kissed lips ….K…Kao…..Kaoru? I was only able to give her a sweet smile with red tear filled eyes as I nod my rain drench head before feeling her body go limp in my arms.
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"Hey you, get your hands off of her!" A deep male voice could be heard in the distance .My head whips around to see two thugs, in fact the same two thugs Ranka unpleasantly introduced me to from the night before. Sprinting towards us, just two blocks away .My eyes glance down to see her chocolate eyes closed. I begin to panic causing my breathing to accelerate …Damn it, I can't lose her.
End of Kaoru's POV…..
End of Chapter.
Well who said 13 is an unlucky number….She is finally here!
I wanted to get this out early but I didn't want to rush it. You only get one shot at this …..So instead of early it's really late. Sorry about that.
What do you think….. Was it worth the wait?
I know, I know, "Life continues" readers are about to send out a hitman on my butt, for delaying their update. It's coming… That chapter is also a key chapter in the story so it might be at least a few days. Man, now that I think about it a lot of the stories are on important updates …..Hmmm I really should have planned that better.
Ok, ok as I posted on the "Hikaru's Doodles" update I just passed the half million mark for words written. Yea! Not bad for less than a year.
Okay to the "Back in our world" followers we are just on the very edge of 50 followers. I'm so excited it would be a first for one of the stories …..Yea!
Thank you so much for all your uplifting support.
Thanks for taking a peek ;) Please Follow/Review Alimackatjac. See ya next time.
