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Title: "Second Glance"
Rating: PG-13
Author: Hummie
E-mail: suedepony@aol.com
Chapter Three

DISCLAIMERS/AN(s): All standard disclaimers apply. Italics indicate thoughts or emphasis. Double parentheses indicate flashbacks.

QUICK INFORMATION: For those who need a quick reminder, Kasumi is twenty-three, while Demando and Mamoru are twenty-six. The ages of Tsukino Kenji and Haruka haven't been disclosed. Kasumi and her father moved to the states when she was twelve. At thirteen, her father had his first show. At sixteen, Kasumi debuted as a model. Are we good to go?

**********

Kasumi examined the establishment that she'd just entered. The interior was cool, and furnished in rich colors; scarlet and tulip-purple among them. The furniture was mismatched; yet everything seemed to go well together. The chrome light fixtures that hung suspended from the ceiling accentuated the black and white photos that were framed upon the walls. She paused to peer at a photo that hung on the wall adjacent to her, silently wondering what filter the photographer had used for it.
Kasumi tugged at the scarf around her slender neck. She had been worried that she would be late. Her father had asked her to take care of Ren Ren. Ren Ren was the Tsukino's six and half year-old dog. The dog usually stayed with her father for special reasons. Kasumi had been told that her mother had bought Ren Ren for her father as a gift for their anniversary because they had met in a pet shop.
Kasumi sighed.
It was the first time that she had ever entered a Starbucks Coffeehouse, the reason being that she sincerely disliked coffee. Most blends seemed to be bitter, at least to her. If she had to drink coffee, mostly when she helped her father with an upcoming show, she would take half coffee and half cream. One time her father had jokingly asked, "Would you like some coffee with that milk?" Kasumi had merely stuck out her tongue and smiled. She loved her father; she would do anything for him.
"I hope you're wearing that smile exclusively for me," said a deep voice, interrupting her former thoughts. Kageno Demando took a step toward Kasumi and gently brushed a golden tendril of hair from her heart-shaped face.
Kasumi blushed at being caught in a reflective mood. She normally didn't let her guard down when she was in a public place. Kasumi bit her lip and then grinned impishly at the platinum-haired man in front of her. "I can assure you that I am," she said in a seductive growl. She raised her brow and pointedly looked him up and down. "What, with you looking so delicious all of the time." Kasumi observed in satisfaction as a deep, scarlet blush bloomed in the hollows of his cheeks and continued all of the way down to the collar of his white, oxford shirt.
Demando stood still in his immaculately straight khaki pants and blinked his eyes rapidly. No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to get rid of the mind-boggling images that flashed before his eyes. Demando tried to swallow, but found that his mouth was dry.
Demando had never been spoken to like that before-- and he found that he liked it. Immensely. Demando's mouth opened and closed like a fish, attempting to reply, but he found that he couldn't just yet. After a second, he realized that his face felt hot. He must be blushing.
At an obvious lost for words, Demando gulped and croaked a squeaky, "Thanks." He clenched and unclenched his hands, determined to breathe evenly. He didn't know what it was about Kasumi. It was like he couldn't control himself in front of her-- his emotions, his actions.
Kasumi smiled at Demando's behavior. When Kasumi had first met him, she had been attracted to Kageno Demando's charm. With his sensual smile, twinkling eyes, and confident demeanor, she couldn't have been anything but attracted. At this moment, Demando was showing her a side of him that she had never seen before. So shy! Kasumi eyed his flushed face and was forced to suppress the urge to give him a tight hug. He was adorable with his blush and suddenly shy manner.
After finally regaining his composure, Demando cleared his throat and said more confidently, "Would you like to go and order yet?"
This gave Kasumi reason for pause. She didn't know anything about coffee. She had been confused earlier when she'd heard customers ordering "venti cappuccinos," "lattes with no foam, but with two-percent milk," and "vanilla frappuccinos with or without whipped cream." Her father mostly drank Folger's House Instant Coffee when he was designing or planning a new line of clothes, and that was what she drank as well.
"I-- I'm sorry. I was hoping just to get a large hot chocolate?" She paused to lick her lips. "Um, with whipped cream?" Kasumi crossed her fingers and prayed that Starbucks had hot chocolate. God, had she been right in hearing that they had whipped cream here? I don't think that I could stand the embarrassment if they don't! Her stomach muscles clenched unpleasantly in anticipation.
Instead Demando smiled, which, of course, caused the butterflies in her stomach to dance about wildly, and directed her to a plump couch by a window; he then left to get their drinks. Kasumi sat down and arranged her clothes in a neat manner. Smiling teens walking hand-in-hand toward McDonalds, businessmen clutching briefcases, and expectant mothers shopping with their husbands could be seen from Kasumi's viewpoint. She loved to watch people move about in their daily lives. Everyone was so different, even in the smallest of ways.
"And here is your hot chocolate."
Kasumi closed her eyes in appreciation as the aroma of chocolate reached her senses. She thanked him for the drink, and they began to talk. They talked of where they've lived, their friends, their hobbies, and their jobs. Kasumi had laughed when Demando had asked her how she was able to walk in stiletto heels.
Kasumi found herself more and more drawn to the man by the passing moment. She looked at him in appreciation, their eyes locking. His eyes were so light, that they were almost white. They held a faint sea-green hue that was almost undetectable unless you were in close proximity with him. His eyes were so deep; she often found it hard to tear her gaze away from him, which mostly led to intense blushing on her part. God, his eyes… They're so flawless. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she swore that…
"I know how this is going to sound, but I can't help but feel that I've met you before," confessed Kasumi. She stole a quick glance at him from under the fringe of her lashes. She desperately hoped that what she'd just said didn't sound like a sad pick-up line.
Demando's heart thump-thumped as the sudden image of a little dog occupied his thoughts. He shook it away and answered slowly, "Yes, I have that same feeling." He couldn't quite fathom as to why an image of a small dog crossed his thoughts whenever he was with Kasumi. He gave up trying and paused to gaze into her cerulean eyes. I bet they will always look beautiful-- even with tears.
He had been unable to observe her appearance too closely before because they had been engaged in their conversation, so he did so now. Before taking her cup of hot chocolate, she had taken off a well-cut jacket made of thick linen to reveal a slightly loose, long-sleeved black shirt that hugged every curve she had to offer. She was wearing a low-cut, hip-hugging pair of dress pants. They were made of the same thick linen as her jacket and went down to her ankles. She was wearing black flats that ensured comfort and protection for her slender feet.
Kasumi was a special woman. She wasn't the usual wilting flower that he had gone out with countless times before. Not only was she attractive, Tsukino Kasumi was sweet, funny, witty, sexy…

I hope you're wearing that smile exclusively for me …

I can assure you that I am …

What, with you looking so delicious all of the time …

Yes, Kasumi was definitely sexy in wicked sort of way. She was strong. She was independent. She was intelligent. Demando couldn't believe his luck at finding such an amazing woman. Since his job demanded his full attention, he was forced to put his relationships on hold. Then he had been given a position on the Tsukino account; he had met Kasumi.
Kasumi, in the meantime, had been racking her brain for any past memory that contained Demando, but turned up with none. Kasumi took a quick sip of her hot chocolate and looked up. She blushed when she found him looking straight at her. She didn't think she would ever get used to his alluring gaze. She swallowed her warm beverage with some difficultly and half-laughed, "I-- I don't know, but… it's something about your--"
"--eyes?" he interrupted.
Demando shook his head at her dumbfounded expression. "I'm sorry for interrupting. It's just that whenever I look into your eyes, I feel that I should know you; that I've known you."
He chuckled at her wide eyes and said, "God, I'm sorry; that probably sounded irrevocably wrong or weird. I know it."
Kasumi smiled wanly. "No, actually, you were right on the dot." She grinned. "Maybe we knew each other in a past life," she stated calmly, as she took another sip of her beverage. "That's how I know most of my friends."
Demando sputtered into his venti cafe mocha. "Wh-what?"
"It's just a joke that I have between my friends and me," she answered nonchalantly. "We instantly felt like we knew one another when we met and now we know each other so well and--" Kasumi looked over at her companion. "--you got your drink all over your hands! You should go get yourself cleaned up."
"I suppose I should." Demando didn't know why he'd been so shaken up by her comment. After dabbing his hands with a napkin, he stood and winked at her. "Don't you go anywhere, gorgeous."
Kasumi gave him her most excellent smile. "I wouldn't for anything."

**********

"How have you been Haruka-chan? I haven't seen you for a good three months now," said Tsukino Kenji.
Haruka gazed at the older man sitting across from her and brushed her short, blonde hair out of her eyes. This was Haruka's first time in Tsukino Kenji's Tokyo office. He had just recently had it built.
Each room was furnished in a different color scheme. It had given Haruka child-like joy when she walked from room to room, discovering this fact. The floor to ceiling windows in the room they were in now faced west. It was a magnificent choice to have decorated the room in wine-colored tones. The sun was setting, sending red and purple streaks into the sky.
Haruka felt calm and satiated at the sight. No wonder this room is used as a place for the staff and models to relax.
There was a cappuccino machine in the corner; next to it, a medium-sized fridge that contained individual packs of salad and fruit cups. There were three plump couches to choose from, all looking comfortable.
It hadn't surprised Haruka when Kasumi told her that her father was going to expand out of the United States. Since Tsukino Kenji's first show ten years ago, his designs had quickly become coveted all over the world. Five months ago, he had opened his office in Florence. In a matter of months, his London office would be up and running as well.
Haruka warily cleared her throat. "I'm sorry that I was unable to be in your last show, but you know how I've been ill. Thank you for commissioning me for the opening of your winter line."
"No thanks are needed. You are one of my favorite models, Haruka-chan." He paused, and a serious expression clouded his usual jovial features. "Just make sure to take care of yourself. I don't want to see you overworking yourself anymore."
Haruka sighed. She'd had no excuse to overwork herself to the point of exhaustion-- no sickly mother, no younger siblings to send to school, nothing. She had just worked and worked until her system couldn't handle it anymore; she shut down. It had left Haruka invalid for almost half a year. She'd just thought… thought that if she worked, she wouldn't be so acutely aware of how lonely she was. Kasumi had tried to help, but Haruka had ignored her. Haruka didn't think that it was possible for Kasumi to understand how she felt, so she'd pushed her away. When Haruka became ill, Kasumi had been there whenever she could, days at a time. It was then that Haruka had truly understood the meaning of friendship… and that she was not alone.
"I'm quite excited about the show," said Kenji. "I love the fabric that I chose for the evening dresses this season; there is a black one that I envisioned specifically for you. Have you been fitted for it yet?"
Haruka grinned. "Earlier today, and I must say that it is ravishing." Haruka's topaz eyes sparkled. "I'm sure it'll be quite a show."
Kenji smiled. "Yes, at least I hope it will…" He waved his hand and shook his head. "Ah, enough talk about business. Kasumiko hinted that she was going out with a young man tonight. Do you know who it might be?" His eyes twinkled with curiosity.
Haruka's brows lifted in surprise. Kasumi hadn't told her about it. Of course, Kasumi had been daydreaming all day, wearing a slight grin wherever she went. Haruka should have known something was up.
"I think I know who he might be," Haruka began slowly. "His name is Kageno Demando. He's a polite man that we met at the airport when we arrived. Kasumi was quite taken with him." Haruka chuckled at Kenji's surprised face. "I wouldn't worry about Kasumiko-chan. I rather trust this Kageno figure."
"I-- Well, that's very interesting," said Kenji, somewhat dazedly, "since I wanted to pair them together anyway!"
Haruka's left brow quirked at Kenji-san's exclamation.
Kenji leaned back against the couch and began to explain. "Kageno Demando is one of the three men who will be handling our account in England."
Haruka was wide-eyed at the coincidence.
"Kasumi joined me for a meeting and Kageno was there," Kenji continued. "I noticed how she became flushed whenever she looked at him. At first, I wanted to strangle Kageno for eliciting such responses from my Pumpkin. I also felt the distinct need spank Kasumiko." Kenji sweat-dropped. "I guess for a moment I'd forgotten that she was a grown woman. From that point on, I became determined to pair them together."
Kenji laughed lightly. "You're right about him being trustworthy. Many people had recommended him for the job, saying that he was a good and honest worker. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get him in my services. I'm glad that Kasumiko has found someone to like. I've been worried about her."
"You're a good father, Kenji-san."

**********

The cold pierced Mamoru's bones. The grass around the tombstone was grey, the only color being the red roses that lay upon the ground. Mamoru clenched his jaws. It was fitting that the grass around the tombstone be grey. His mother was dead; the grass might as well be dead as well. In all actually, all of the grass in the cemetery was grey, but it didn't matter. It just fed his agitated state.
Mamoru shoved his hands into the pockets of his overcoat. His hands were numb from the cold; he had forgotten his gloves in the car. It was getting late. The sun was starting to drift behind the trees. How long had he been there? An hour? Two hours? Five hours? He couldn't remember. When he had arrived, the sun had been high in the sky. A chilling wind blew his hair into his eyes, reminding him of the coming nightfall. Mamoru moved to brush his locks away and out of his eyes, but found that he really didn't care much. He put his hand back in his pocket.
"Mother," he whispered.
Tomorrow would be the anniversary of his mother's death. His mother… He knew that he had always loved her, even when he had begun to call and visit her less and less. He had been too busy with his job, with his girlfriends, with being a selfish and ungrateful son-- he had been busy being exactly like his father.
And what's worse, I continue to be just like him.
His father had raised him to be an arrogant child. As a young man, Mamoru had been constantly aware of his handsome features and charm. His father had taught him to use his muscular physique, tall stature, and good looks to his advantage. His father had always praised him for being the perfect son, and encouraged Mamoru to be just like him. Mamoru had so idolized his father as a youth. He had been so captivated by the wish to be exactly like his father that it had taken a long while for him to realize what an awful man he was.
Over the years, Mamoru's father had begun treat his mother shamefully. It began with simple things. He would yell if the food was too spicy… or if it wasn't spicy enough. This escalated into long bouts of silence. They just wouldn't talk. They didn't speak to each other at all, not even to say goodnight. After a month of silence, his father had stopped coming home at night.
Mamoru had been confused at his father's behavior, but he wasn't stupid. Mamoru wasn't worried at all by his father's actions. Why shouldn't his father find comfort from another, even if it wasn't his mother? Mamoru chose to ignore his father's actions. He continued on with high school, then to Toudai University, then to a prestigious job in Osaka. One night, after not seeing his mother for five months, he received a call from her.
"Mamoru, please come home. I am not well. Your father…" His mother had coughed. "Just, please, come home as quickly as possible."
Mamoru had immediately left for home. When he arrived, he learned that his mother now practically lived alone, but appeared to be fine. At first, he had been outraged. Why did his mother call him? Why did his mother decide to disturb the life he had now?
"Mamoru, my son…" she had said. His mother had given him a light hug and tried to ruffle his hair, but found that she was too short to reach the top of his head. She had laughed. Mamoru remembered how rough it had sounded, but so soft at the same time. "Mamoru, my son…" She had sounded so weak that he had been left confused. "My son, I am dying."
When his mother had said this, he didn't want to believe it. His mother was dying? Impossible! "How could this be possible, mother?" he had asked.
His mother had merely turned a sad eye toward her son. "Your father has been sleeping around with other women for years now. I don't know how many…" She had reclined into an easy chair near to where Mamoru was standing.
Mamoru had blushed. He hadn't wanted to hear about his father's lovers. But she continued, ignoring or simply not seeing her the grimace that had made its way to her son's handsome face.
"One night, your father came back to me. I never thought about the consequences of getting back together with your father. I was just so happy when he came home. He said that he was sorry for treating me wrongfully. I took him back into my heart and into my bed." His mother had swallowed back tears. Mamoru began to feel sick at the memory.
"He didn't mean what he'd said. He had been drunk, and left in the morning. That was a year ago. I started to feel ill, and I went to a doctor. Your father, he gave me a terminal disease."
That was the first and last time that he had ever cried. He had taken his mother into his arms and cried. He took her up to her room and made her dinner. Then he went looking for his father. Mamoru had found him in a karaoke bar, coping a feel on a wavy-haired, young woman.
Mamoru had been boiling with anger. He'd seized his father by the collar of his shirt and threw him to the ground. "You damned inconsiderate bastard! You perverted and useless son of a bitch!" Mamoru had yelled. "You've finally done what you've been wishing to do! My mother, your wife, is dying from a disease you gave her! A disease that you got from sleeping with women outside of the marriage bed! I hope you die a slow and painful death. I no longer consider you to be my father. You are no one! I'm shamed to carry your name!" His father had simply stared up at him from the floor. When Mamoru thought about it now, he concluded that his father had probably been drunk.
Mamoru quit his job in Osaka and lived with his mother until her death. He took care of her morning and night. They talked about anything and everything. On the night before her death, his mother had been so much better. She had actually requested to help trim the Christmas tree.
"Mamoru, my son, I thank you for being with me now. I am proud to have a wonderful son like you. Not many young men would leave prestigious jobs to take care of their sickly mothers for over a year."
Mamoru had simply smiled and slowly said, "I will always be here for you, my mother. You've always been there for me. I am thankful to have a mother such as you."
She grinned slightly. Mamoru, I worry. I think that maybe you are lonely. Since Demando moved to England three months ago, you don't have anyone to talk to but me. I also don't see you asking out any young women. Please, live your life so that you will always be happy. Promise me that you'll never be lonely, as I was.
I promise. Now, don't worry mother. Just sleep, I'll see you in the morning with your tea and your favorite Japanese cake!
In the morning, when Mamoru had brought up her breakfast, he found that his mother had died in her sleep. When she died, he died with her, but he had kept his promise. His promise never to be lonely, but he couldn't help but feel like he was walking in the footsteps of his father.
God, how Mamoru wished he had someone to talk with.

**********

When Demando had come back from the bathroom, they had resumed their conversation. She talked about her San Francisco apartment, the same apartment where her father and her had first lived. Demando listened attentively and then spoke of his family-- his parents and cousin.
Kasumi had sips of hot chocolate in between sentences. The aroma of her drink was thick and heady; distinctively sweet. "I've always loved chocolate, but I don't have it often, " she said after she'd taken a careful sip of her hot beverage. "It-- it reminds me of my mother. My mother--" She paused in surprise, but continued slowly. "She would make a cup of hot chocolate for me on cold days."
Kasumi sat with her mouth agape. She hardly remembered anything from her time in Japan. She had cried countless nights for the mother she could hardly remember. Doctors had told her father that her selective amnesia was probably due to the shock of her losing her mother. Her body couldn't cope and had terminated most of her memories from when she lived in Japan.
Demando smiled at her, but grew somewhat alarmed as Kasumi's usually rosy cheeks paled. "Kasumi-chan!" he exclaimed. "Kasumi-chan, are you okay? You're so pale!" Kasumi looked up in surprise. She hadn't realized that she'd become quiet all of a sudden. Wait a second! She gave a wan smile, then paused. "Kasumi-chan?" she inquired with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Demando blushed at his slip. God, he was blushing a lot today.
Kasumi giggled. "I like the way it sounds on your lips." Her eyes clouded and her tone became solemn, "Have no worries about my pallor, Demando-kun," she emphasized, still teasing him despite her tone. "I was caught off guard. I--" Kasumi looked into his eyes, surprised that she was about to tell him this. "I hardly remember anything about my mother, you see. I have selective amnesia. The doctors say that I went into shock and blocked most of my memories. I remember only little about her-- about my life before I moved to the states." Kasumi's eyes began to water.
Demando watched silently as she fought to keep her emotions under control. His chest tightened in sympathy. It must be horrible not to remember someone you loved dearly, to not remember a large portion of your life. He couldn't even start to imagine how that must be like. His hand reached out to hers, and she looked up.
"Thank you for sharing that with me. I can tell that your mother means a lot to you."
Kasumi unconsciously clasped his fingers as he wiped one of her tears away. Her heart contracted almost painfully at the contact. His sweet actions filled her heart beyond capacity; she thought it would burst.
Kasumi didn't notice how she had begun to lean toward Demando, her lips centimeters away from his. Demando cupped her cheek gently and kissed her cheek. She looked at him with questioning eyes; she had expected more.
"I've come to like you very much, Kasumi," whispered Demando. "I want our first kiss to be special." He grinned. "And not with silly teenagers gaping at us through the window."
Kasumi bit her lip, her eyes wide. Her heart was beating wildly, the butterflies in her stomach giving her no mercy. "I like you, too," she whispered, suddenly aware of how true the statement was. She gently ran her fingers over his lips. She blushed at her actions and quickly turned away. Such a show of her emotions in a public place!
Demando cupped her chin, making her face him again. "Never be ashamed of your actions. I like them…" His eyes twinkled. Demando couldn't believe how hard he had fallen for Kasumi.

**********

Chiba Mamoru took a deep breath and mentally slapped himself. How could he possibly forget the name of the place where Demando said he would be staying? Mamoru calmed himself and tried to gather his wits about him. He knew that he needed to speak with someone, and Demando was like a brother to him. He would be able to talk to Demando about anything.
Mamoru sighed.
Mamoru dialed the number the next apartment complex on the list. He had already called four different apartment complexes in the Azabu district. He'd be damned if he had to call another one of them after this one.
"Good evening! Aodake Apartments, Front desk. How may I help you?" inquired a smooth, articulate female voice.
"Hello, would you kindly check if a Kageno Demando is registered there?"
After a brief pause, the woman answered, "Yes, there is a Kageno Demando listed."
Mamoru sighed in relief. "Well, could you please connect me to his room?"
"I am sincerely sorry, sir. The residents of Aodake Apartments require their privacy, and we are obliged to respect their demands."
"Figures," muttered Mamoru under his breath. He heard a shuffle of papers through the receiver.
"Ah, sir, I've just found a message that Kageno-san left at the front desk earlier today. It says… that he will be out for the evening."
"So, he's not in at the moment?" Mamoru felt like banging his head against the wall. "Could you please tell him that a Chiba Mamoru called?"
"Surely, sir. It would be a pleasure to assist you in any way. Do have a pleasant evening."
Mamoru nearly rolled his eyes at the reply. He was certain that was the way the desk hostess was trained to answer for the present situation. She would have probably answered the same way if he had requested that she bark into the telephone receiver. "Thank you."
The raven-haired man ended the call and looked discontentedly out of the window. His cousin had been in town for a week, and he hadn't heard from him since the pick-up debacle. To top it off, Keito was raising hell-- even trying to sue him for emotional damage. Mamoru had been disgusted by her behavior; also grimly amused. They'd only been going out for three weeks. He sighed and tried his cousin's cellular phone. It hadn't been on recently, and he'd only been able to reach Demando's voice mail service; he hated to leave messages. He let it ring a couple of times before…
"Moshi moshi?" a female voice answered.

**********

I'm sorry for the long delay. I'd actually begun to read Harry Potter fanfiction and forgot that I was an author entirely. Do excuse my idiotic behavior. A big thanks to Fly_Girl who got my priorities straight and another big thanks to Anime Anne who is my new beta. The end of chapter three. Until next chapter!