By Jin
Disclaimers: Rekka no Honou and its characters are copyrighted to their respective owners. No profit was gained from writing this, except for the amusement of the author and the people who would read this. Senada, however, is purely fictional and has nothing to do with the anime/manga series.
2: Red Tape ---
She couldn't help it.
They were soft, warm but firm lips pressing gently against her own as if unsure whether to stop or continue. It sent her tumbling into an unknown territory and brought certain tingles everywhere – from the little sensations on her cheek whenever his fingers caressed it, to her own legs which seemed to lose their purpose. Another smooth hand cradled the base of her neck to support her head, which was swimming in circles of different thoughts.
She kissed him back, applying the slightest bit of pressure to make her feelings known.
'...please don't stop.'
'I don't intend to.'
'Good.'
He dared to open his mouth the slightest bit to deepen the passion growing by the seconds passing them by. She didn't object. She just let him continue with his actions and melted into his arms.
His touch.
"Fuuko?"
She let out a slight gasp of surprise and jerked her head at the newcomer.
"What are you doing?"
The 23-year-old girl shook herself out of her idyllic reverie and forced her eyes to come into focus. "I'm so sorry. I must have dozed off in the middle of these." She mumbled shyly, gesturing at the messy paperwork, which she managed to crumple when her body decided to take a short catnap. Fuuko glanced at her wristwatch and saw that it was 1:10 am.
"Well, try to get some sleep, okay?" said her landlady.
"Yes, I will." She promised.
Maya, a woman in her late fifties, smiled at her tenant's hard work. She was an old acquaintance of her family and was kind enough to take her in, since the house Fuuko lived in was 'confiscated' (as the old lady put it) by the authorities.
"You'll get through it, dear." She reassured her with a small hug. "Your father will be immensely proud of you when he gets out of that confounded prison. Have you managed to find a lawyer yet?"
"Oh yeah, I did." Fuuko's eyes brightened and she hurriedly searched through the jumble in front of her. "His name is Mikagami, and I'm coming back tomorrow so that we can discuss everything. I am SO glad I found one already Maya-san. I was beginning to think that there were no available ones here in Tokyo at all. I was ready to set foot in Kyoto already."
"Mikagami...isn't that the young man we see hurrying on TV sometimes?"
She nodded.
"Well, you've certainly seized a famous guy. He's made quite a name for himself."
I don't even know what made him agree. He was sitting there, looking like he was sorely tempted to boot me out of his office when those words fell from his tongue.
"I better get going. Still have to make a trip to the market tomorrow morning, Fuuko. Don't stay up to late, you hear?"
"I'll try not to."
And Fuuko was left back to her original state. Alone, in a dark room illuminated by a bright lamp standing on the mahogany table her father owned. Maya's visit wasn't a surprise. The kind woman would visit from time to time these past weeks. Though she was quite capable of taking care of herself already, it certainly has been hell enough for her. The absence of her beloved father wounded her like the little pricks of a needle that wouldn't stop. There was also her homework and papers to take care of, if she wanted to bag that degree she was working for. Maya would purposefully bring her an occasional mug of soup, a cup of steaming tea or a warm jacket to keep her warm during these cold evenings.
"I wonder how papa's doing..." she wondered out loud, while fiddling with the hem of her favorite sweater.
It wasn't really that entertaining to hear her father explain the details of the man who threatens to pursue them.
It wasn't a pretty sight either to see the man who brought her up, captured and taken away for no particular reason except for the two words:
Murder and arson.
What were those supposed to mean?
They've always lived a simple and moderate life. They weren't filthy rich, but neither were they dirt poor. She grew up in a modest house, went to a good public school and with hard work, got into an excellent college. Her father worked as an auditor for a small company, and whatever he earned was enough for the two of them. Fuuko was just about to start her own job-hunt when she spotted her father's face being forced into a police car on television.
They never said anything to her. Her father was not allowed to speak about it at all. She was only able to catch a few phrases.
"Fuuko! Your grandfather! He's the one behind this mess!"
And nothing more. Her father never complained or talked about his mysterious job. That was all Fuuko needed to know, according to him. As long as it provided food on the table, it was enough. He refused to go any further.
Fuuko sank her head into her arms for the nth time. Enough worrisome thoughts. They weren't going to get her anywhere this time. She already found help. They would start tomorrow. Maya's right – she should go to sleep to preserve her energy for she was close to looking like a wreck. Only concealer and a slight dab of color saved her from resembling a vampire with dark shadowy eyes.
But she couldn't sleep. Not after that dream of hers.
It was surreal, but at the same time, so convincing. It was as if it were truly happening to her.
All dreams feel that way, don't they?
She licked her lips subconsciously, remembering how it felt. What made it feel even stranger was that she couldn't remember the face of her supposed love interest. Nothing. Blank. Zilch. Nada. It was all blurry, save for one pair of pale blue eyes.
A frown crossed her face. There's got to be more than a million people with eyes of the same hue.
Yet I felt that it was someone I know...
Confused all the more, Fuuko closed her own tired eyes and went of to the nirvana she had been fancying ever since she was 12.
***
He couldn't help but stare at her drained face. Even the smallest amount bit of color she managed to produce yesterday was gone. She looked worn-out and in no condition to stand, lest even talk.
"Are you feeling ill, Kirisawa-san?" Tokiya couldn't help the edge of concern that touched his voice. He would see days when Yuriko would come to work with the flu or cold, but never had he seen anyone appear like this.
She didn't reply.
Stupid question.
His eyes flicked over to Yuriko who was looking just as worried as he was. She came forward and touched his newest client gently on the shoulder.
"Fuuko-san?"
That seemed to wake her up, for she came out of her trance, forced a smiled and looked earnestly at him. "Yes? Oh, I'm sorry...I must have spaced out. I've been doing that a lot, you know. I haven't slept well these couple of nights." She confessed apologetically.
Maybe she was being a little bit too earnest in that stare of hers. It was strained. Tokiya had been reading faces and body languages for the longest time and this girl wasn't fooling him at all.
"Coffee?" Yuriko asked.
"No thanks." She declined politely. "Where were we, Mikagami-san?"
His eyebrow went up a little bit. "Actually, we haven't even begun, Kirisawa-san. For the past few seconds, I wasn't sure whether my voice was reaching your eardrums."
"Oh...sorry." Fuuko flushed slightly, looking more human now than the near-corpse he saw moments ago.
"Don't mind it." He replied. "Shall we?"
She nodded. "Please go ahead."
"Well, I've gone through the folders you've given me already. The information provided is okay – but it's not what we're looking for."
"What do you mean?" she fought to keep her focus on and not drift away to the mindless dreamworld.
"It lacks evidence." He stated plainly. "So far, I have..." he flipped through the papers, "your father's resume, a short summary of the company he's working for – which bothers me a little for it has no name at all – and the details when and where he was arrested."
"Huh?"
Tokiya sighed and forced himself to understand that this was a girl who graduated from a Biology course and had no idea on what was really going on. He wasn't used to dealing with clients like her. Everyone else he handled were much older and superior than him. This was like taking care of a kid. She knew nothing about how it works.
He decided to try again.
"What we're looking for are the answers to these two questions. One, why your father was charged of yhe said crimes and two, why your grandfather has a hand in this mess. That's all, Kirisawa-san. What you've given me is fine, but most of it is unnecessary."
Fuuko said nothing.
She sank into the chair and buried her face into her hands.
For one fleeting moment, Tokiya felt a slight twist in his stomach and wondered whether she had burst into tears. He did not expect this. He only agreed to take her in as his client and bail her father out of his trap. There was no statement regarding emotional stress. Though he did see a little of her inner torment, he was totally unprepared.
"Kirisawa-san?"
Silence filled the room.
What was he going to do now? Offer her a piece of tissue? He didn't even have a supply of Kleenex in his office. He glanced around for Yuriko who seemed to have disappeared. Where was that girl when he needed her?
Soft muffled sounds escaped from her.
Please, don't go into a sobbing fit.
But no. She wasn't sobbing.
She wasn't even sniffling.
Good God, she was laughing.
By this time, Tokiya was convinced that most women were either standing on the brink of insanity or teetering by the side of mischief.
"Kirisawa-san..." he began grimly, giving her another one of his infamous stares.
Yuriko had already returned from lalaland and halted at his door.
"What is going on?" she asked.
He took a quick look at her and resumed gazing at his client. "Funny, I was going to ask the same thing, but you beat me to it. Care to try and see if she's still sane?"
"I...I spent countless nights, trying to find those!" Fuuko burst out, making the confused assistant jump in surprise. Tokiya however, remained seated. "I mean, I know it's all dumb and probably messed up for you, Mikagami-san. I just can't believe I wasted all of those hours going over 'research' which I thought would help my father and now I know that nothing's going to help and that I'm just one big idiot now and you're all laughing at my stupidity."
But again, he read her laugh. He dissected her voice. She wasn't really amused. And when she sought out his eyes with her own, he found them to be misty and defeated, instead of cheerful and jovial.
He shouldn't have used the word 'unnecessary'.
"Please pardon my indiscretion, Kirisawa-san."
And since when did Tokiya Mikagami apologize?
"No, it's okay. Really." She plastered that fake smile all over her face again.
He didn't like the effect on her face. Tears that were ready to spill any moment now were daring him to make another tactless comment.
When did you really care?
"No, I shouldn't have remarked so suddenly."
And did the ever so cold and aloof Tokiya offer his handkerchief to weeping women?
She sat frozen in her seat. His outstretched hand remained still.
Oh, he just hated it when women cry. He couldn't stand Yuriko's quiet sobs, when she would talk to him about her difficulties, when Clarissa burst out sobbing after he announced their breakup... and now, this girl seated right in front of him.
"Are you going to take it or not?" he asked, a bit impatiently, to preserve whatever was left of his dignity.
Tokiya does have a weak spot after all.
Shut up.
He was so busy waging a mental battle that he hardly caught her mumble of appreciation.
"Mikagami-san?" Fuuko asked.
He shook himself free from his stance and settled back into his seat.
Tokiya racked his head for a reply. "We ran out of Kleenex..."
'We ran out of Kleenex.' How dumb could his answers actually get? What's next now? He'd announce that he needed more minerals in his diet and decided to take some salt from her?
"I see." She murmured.
"Ahem." Yuriko coughed and gestured to his windows.
Ah, great. A hundred ladies crowded outside, pressing against the glass to hear whatever was coming out of their mouths. Occasional laughs and small whispers went around and he didn't have to guess what they were talking about.
He suddenly sensed another attack of headaches coming at him.
"This really isn't the best place for you to discuss these." Yuriko spoke up.
Fuuko looked up and wrinkled her nose, slightly confused.
"And why not, Yuriko?" he inquired with a sigh.
"Well, you don't have privacy." She explained, jerking her head towards the small group crowded near his window, "and perhaps Fuuko-san would prefer a more comfortable location. Lunch, maybe? She doesn't look like she's had a square meal for days..."
Tokiya watched Fuuko intently with the corner of his eye. Yuriko was right – the pale face, enervated body and her 'spacing out' weren't good signs.
"Kirisawa-san, would you mind stepping out?" he asked.
Viola! Tokiya invites a lady to lunch. Nice going.
You shut your trap, or I will make you.
"Uhh..." she glanced at Yuriko.
"Oh, don't mind me!" the taller girl smiled amiably. "I'm having my own lunch date with a few girlfriends. Besides, you don't have to worry about Tokiya here. He doesn't bite unless provoked."
"I resent that..." he smirked. "It's just lunch across the block, Kirisawa-san." He added.
Fuuko looked uneasy and blushed even more. "But...I don't want to impose or anything, I mean it's very embarrassing to you, Mikagami-san. If at all, I should be the one treating you to lunch..."
"Nonsense!" Yuriko grinned manically, and pulled the lithe girl from her chair and practically shoved her in front of Tokiya. "Take good care of her because it's exactly 12 noon and we women must feed to keep our energy going. Wouldn't want any fainting business, wouldn't we?" she waggled her eyebrows at her boss.
Yes, it was so typical of her to bring up his elderly client who collapsed in his office, months ago.
Yuriko bounced off the room and that left the two of them there. Fuuko seemed intent on staring at his carpet.
Well, he was hungry. He couldn't just leave her here, or send her away because they simply needed to get something done. Time was also catching up on her too.
"Kirisawa-san?"
She bit her lower lip.
'What must I do to get her to come with me? Give me a sign, for heaven's sake!' Tokiya pleaded to the favorable Gods, silently.
His 'sign' came by the form of a low rumble.
...which certainly did not come from him.
Fuuko slowly raised her head and grinned. "I suppose I am a little hungry."
"It's settled then." He nodded, picking up his mobile phone, wallet and the files they needed. "We can continue our conversation over there. We have to walk a little, though. Would you mind? Because if you're still feeling a little lightheaded, I can drive my car."
"Oh no, I can walk." She reassured him with a brighter smile. "I'm not that sick...and I appreciate your concern, Mikagami-san."
He didn't reply anymore and walked straight to the elevator. He paused shortly, allowing her to go first. As the doors were closing, he was able to glimpse at his officemates (which were composed of 90% females which made him wonder from time to time why he was assigned to this floor...) and heard their hushed whispers and bubbly laughs. What irked him a bit was the sight of their eyes constantly shifting from him to the girl beside him.
'Giggling should be banned', thought Tokiya as he rolled his eyes in disgust.
It was a quiet walk to the small café they were heading to. He kept himself busy by re-reading the bits of information she gathered. As much as he wanted to just close the folder and keep it locked in his desk and one day feed it to the paper shredder, he couldn't. He simply could not find the words to say to this girl.
Maybe it was her physical appearance that was keeping him back. For although Tokiya Mikagami was one of the most distant men in the universe, he was still human and humans could feel pity.
"...you treat your clients as...things. One you win the case, you shoo them off, then go back to your office to brood, like you always do."
Why the sudden surge of compassion?
He had no idea. But just like every other puzzle that came to mind, he was going to figure out why.
TBC
Author's notes:
First of all, a very BIG thanks to those who reviewed! You guys are soooooo nice.
Meseta, I'm honored that you'd place me among those well-known authors. But my all time inspiration for tofu would be fuuko_no_miko and her wonderful fic, Heaven Awaits. If you haven't read it, I suggest that you do so. It will really knock you out of your feet.
1. I'm not going to explain the dream sequence up there. :)
2. Tokiya's character was fun to write about. Mind you, it was hard to keep him grumpy and concerned at the same time. You may notice that he and Fuuko seem a bit OOC, but let's consider their ages. Both of them are in their early twenties. Don't you think they would have matured a bit already? It would seem awkward to have a 23-year old Fuuko pouncing at the thought of food.
3. Hee. I made Tokiya headache-prone and uneasy when it comes to ladies weeping. (Man, how did he reject those hearts longing for him?)
4. Does it seem like Yuriko's up to something? I think she is. She's another amusing character. Don't worry...she'll be appearing more in the next chapters to come.
5. What do you guys think of the handkerchief scene? Was it a display of slight interest or just Tokiya being ever so polite? (Elevator scene. Hehe.) Tell me. I'd like to know how the readers interpreted it.
6. Chapter is entitled Red Tape, meaning formalities. It also signals the start of the working relationship.
No one was able to spot my Harry Potter references? If you don't know what they are, they're lines I've taken from the different books. Come on, they're not that hard to spot. In fact, if you did read those notes up there, you'll spot a clue for the reference I made for this chapter.
Til the next chapter!