WARNING: I know very little about legal and business matters so the last part of this chapter might not be too realistic. Let's just humor silly bishlov for a bit, okay?
Standard disclaimers are applied here.
This chapter is dedicated to KyteAura for making me feel better when I was very irritated with one lowlife creep.
PASSION
By bishounen lovah
Chapter 3
The sun was already setting by the time the ceremony was over. It was a very trying and tiring day for Rika. Her emotions were all jumbled up so bad that she didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry.
She never felt this way when she was in Tomoeda. Her life there was so uncomplicated; so simple and, at times, so boring. But she had never admitted that to anyone nor was she planning to admit it to these people.
A bunch of hypocrites, that's what they are, she thought as she dismissed the 'well-wishers' with a polite smile. But inwardly she was grimacing because she knew that she was being a hypocrite to them too. She didn't give a rip about what they thought of her because come morning she would be on her way back to her simple, uncomplicated, boring life.
"I am so sorry for your loss," said one of the guests as he clasped her hands in his. He was one of her father's big clients, according to Yoshiyuki, but to her he would always be the sweaty buffoon who kept ogling her body.
"Thank you for coming, Hatayama-san," she pasted on a brighter, faker smile just for him and tried to extricate her hand as subtly as she could.
The next half hour was pretty much the same—strangers offering condolences that came from the gut and not from the heart, Yoshiyuki introducing them as though they were in a party rather than a funeral, and Rika repeating the same words while inwardly amusing herself by making up new names for her father's acquaintances.
There goes the pointy-nosed ostrich.
Ah, thank you for coming, Mr. Shiny-head Octopus.
It has been a long time, Mrs. Furry-neck.
Yes, Mrs. Walking Stick, I'm glad the weather held too.
She was actually disappointed when the last of the guests left the temple. She thanked the Buddhist priests who performed the ceremony and left Yoshiyuki to attend to any other unfinished business with the temple.
She sighed in relief when she slipped in the limousine. Her feet ached, her mind was in shambles and Yoshiyuki, who always stood so close to her, didn't help her feel good one bit. Instead, his proximity contributed to her inner chaos.
Rika was annoyed with his familiarity. She became even more annoyed when halfway through the ceremony she was engulfed by deep sorrow. And Yoshiyuki, damn him for being such, was astute enough to notice it.
She didn't want to feel sad about her father's death.
And she didn't want Yoshiyuki's supportive touch on her back.
It was vile…revolting…irritating.
Who am I kidding, she sighed rather loudly. His touch was the only thing that kept her from crying. It gave her strength and, strange as it may seem, some comfort. For she knew that he was the only one, aside from her, who truly cared for Sasaki Juzo.
Father…
She couldn't continue, didn't actually know what to say. Her prayers had been vague yet polite. She wished that his soul be put to rest—that Buddha would guide his soul to its next destination. The words were all automatic but deep inside she knew that his memories were still alive and very much disturbing.
Her father was still haunting her.
Time, yes, time will make me forget. And distance. I can't stay here too long or the peace I have struggled to attain will shatter. Tomorrow I'll start to forget.
"Are you okay?"
The light touch on her arm jolted her in her seat. She blinked back in surprise then noticed that the car was already moving. She didn't notice Yoshiyuki come in the car and it didn't give her comfort when she realized that they had been traveling for quite a while now.
"Rika, are you okay," Yoshiyuki softly repeated. "You've been too quiet."
"I'm fine. I'm just tired, that's all," she shrugged, trying to act as though nothing was amiss.
"Then try to rest. We won't be home for a while yet."
She was on the verge of telling him that sleeping in moving cars usually made her head ache but then decided he didn't need to know that. Besides, if she pretended to be asleep she would be able to avoid any unpleasant conversations with him.
It wasn't long before the soothing lull of the car and her exhaustion put her to sleep. She didn't notice that she had, of course, because the next thing she knew someone was gently shaking her shoulder.
"Mmm. Just a minute more, Takashi." She buried her face deeper in her pillow then frowned when she found it too hard. Her eyes opened then opened wider when she saw a silk shirt and tie. Instantly she knew that she was in the arms of her enemy.
"Sorry," she mumbled as she pushed her body from his. She must have leaned on him while asleep. To cover up her embarrassment and deepening blush, she sharply said, "You should have pushed me away."
"And what would your Takashi say if I did that?" his voice had a sharper edge to it as compared to his gentle tone earlier.
Before she could speculate on his sudden change, he was already out of the car and opening her door. She tried to guess what he was thinking but his face already held a blank look. She frowned at him some more and unconsciously reached for his extended hand.
The moment their hands touched, disturbing memories came flooding in. Memories of a night of passion that ended in a tragedy. She thought she had gotten over it but apparently she hadn't. And judging from the hot look Yoshiyuki was sending her, it seemed the memories were all too clear for him too.
She snatched her hand away. Her skin felt like it was burned and she cursed herself for her stupidity then and now.
Stop it, Rika! You were a fool back then. An immature fool. Don't let him affect you in any way. You're wiser than that.
And so she ignored him and her fluttering heart. That was her plan after all. Be amiable and avoid any confrontations. That way she wouldn't be more affected than necessary during her final visit in Kyoto. A clean getaway.
A few more hours. Just a few more hours and I'm out of here. She climbed up the steps and as usual the door opened before she could touch the shiny brass door knob.
"Good evening," Godo politely greeted while giving her an assessing look.
"Good evening, Godo-san. And I'm fine. Really, I am," she answered his unasked question.
The old butler gave her a frown but did not dare voice out his opinion. However he sent a worried look at Yoshiyuki which Rika had missed. "Kawabata-san is waiting for both of you in Sasaki-sama's study."
At that, Rika was halted from her ascent to her old quarters. "Kawabata-san? Father's lawyer? What is he doing here?"
Again, Godo sent Yoshiyuki a silent message.
"It is customary for the will to be read after the funeral," Yoshiyuki signaled Godo to make himself scarce. The action made her more irritable.
"I knew that," she snapped, "but couldn't it wait until tomorrow?" When I'm no longer here, she silently added.
"It was Juzo's wish that his will be read directly after the final ceremony." He shrugged and looked up at her, daring her to protest some more.
Damn it!
She was hoping she could avoid this. She knew her father well enough to suspect that his will would make her miserable. She didn't care if she inherited nothing. What she didn't like was being told to her face that her father left her nothing. And what she especially didn't like was being told to her face that her father had left everything to his favorite charge, Yoshiyuki.
Damn! Damn! DAMN!
"Fine! Let's get this over with." She strode back down and crossed the massive hallway to her father's domain, leaving a smirking Yoshiyuki in her wake.
From out of nowhere, Godo appeared to open the door for her. It never ceased to amaze her how he did that but right now she was too upset to wonder about it.
The short chubby man rose from his seat the moment she entered. He was one of the people she recognized at the funeral. When she was just a little girl, she used to think that he looked like a teddy bear with his chubby cheeks and charcoal black eyes. But now she could see the sharpness and intelligence in those eyes.
"Please take a seat," Kawabata said as soon as the door was closed. Rika sat on the long sofa and resisted the urge to scoot away when Yoshiyuki sat beside her. She stared pointedly at him then at the vacant chair opposite the lawyer but it seemed he did not understand her unspoken message.
"I'm sorry, Sasaki-chan," Kawabata thought the glare was directed at him. "I know you must be tired and upset so I won't take too long. Actually, your father left everything in order so all I have to do is read his letter."
The lawyer opened his briefcase and took out a thick manila envelope. Then he fished out a folded stationery with her name on it. She wondered why it was addressed only to her then thought Yoshiyuki's would probably come next. Her father was probably saving the best for last. Kawabata unfolded the page then placed on his reading glasses.
"Dear Rika," he read. "If you are listening to this then it must mean that I have joined your mother in heaven although I know you must be wishing that I'm burning in hell."
Rika turned a shade brighter in embarrassment and noticed that the lawyer was slightly uncomfortable too. She didn't need to look at Yoshiyuki for his reaction. She was sure that he was amused by all of this. He probably even knew what was written in that letter since he and her father had no secrets.
"Please go on," she said once she recovered.
The lawyer cleared his throat and read on. "I know you hate my guts and with good reason, I might add. I was never a good father to you. I know it's too late to make amends but I would still like to make it up to you."
Kawabata paused and she knew what he would say next would change her life. "Upon my death, all of my assets which include land properties, material possessions and existing businesses would be transferred to your name."
There was a momentary silence as the lawyer let this announcement sink in. She could hardly shake off the shock. She was wrong. Her father had left her everything. "I can't believe it," she whispered.
"I know that these mean nothing to you but I ask that you hold on to my life's work for a while. I have already taken precautionary legal measures that would prevent you from liquidating the assets for one year.
"As for my company, Sasaki Textiles, Inc., it will now have you for its president. You have no formal education or training on managing a business but I trust that you would do right for the business. Hundreds of jobs are entrusted in your care thus hundreds of lives are in your hands.
"Should you refuse the position the job will automatically fall on my vice president's lap. But I don't want my life's work go to someone other than family even though I consider Yoshiyuki as a son. To make it clearer, should you choose to refuse the position, Terada Yoshiyuki will take over on your behalf if, and only if, you marry him."
Marry…
Him…
Yoshiyuki?
"You've got to be kidding me."
To be continued…
MUST READ BISHLOV NOTES:
[1] Ohohoho. That wasn't too bad, was it? I told you I know very little about these things. If you think I made any MISTAKES then please tell me. CLARIFICATIONS and OPINIONS are encouraged. I don't mind being told that I made a mistake as long as it is said nicely or, at least, civilly.
[2] Sasaki Juzo DID NOT ADOPT Yoshiyuki even if he married Yoshi's mother. So legally Yoshi is not part of the Sasaki family. This is to clarify the last part of the will.
[3] I decided to start the MAILING LIST because I'm really going to take too long to update. If you haven't received a mail for this chapter and wants to receive one for the next then leave a message (and your address). If you did receive a mail and don't want to be bothered by it then leave a note too. RESPONSES TO REVIEWS are in the mail.
[4] KISSY THANKS to all of those who read and reviewed and even those who got to the page by mistake hehe. Hugs to all!