BISHLOV: Round one *ting ting ting*
Standard disclaimers are applied here.
PASSION
By bishounen lovah
Chapter 4
Absolutely lovely.
Yoshiyuki watched the flicker of emotions in her eyes as she stared accusingly at him. It was rude of her especially since they were not alone but he liked it a lot better than her earlier detached composure before and after the funeral.
"You!" she all but growled. "You knew about this!"
Her hands were clenched as though she was restraining herself from strangling him but still he did not move away. "The topic did come up once," Yoshiyuki shrugged.
"And you agreed to it," she exclaimed indignantly.
"Rika, calm down. Juzo-san asked what I thought about marriage to you and I said I was not opposed to the idea." Of course, that was the cropped version. His entire conversation with her father actually lasted a whole evening. Even if the old man knew him inside out, Yoshiyuki still had to prove himself worthy of Rika. It was one of the rare occasions that he'd proven how much the Sasaki patriarch loved his daughter.
"Out."
"Excuse me?" He wasn't sure if he heard her whispered demand right.
"Get out," Rika repeated through clenched teeth. "I want to speak to Kawabata-san in private."
Yoshiyuki shrugged then wordlessly stood. To the others he may look cool and composed but inside he was full of jittery nerves. He knew that Rika would badger the lawyer to find any loopholes in her father's will—anything to keep her from staying in Kyoto. And though he was fairly certain there weren't any, he still couldn't help but worry if there was something he and Sasaki Juzo had missed.
The nod that he gave the lawyer before he left the room was brief but the look that accompanied it was loaded. He was silently imploring Kawabata to go along with Juzo's plan even though he knew the old man would do no such thing.
Though Kawabata had been loyal to Juzo and had questioned this unusual legal move only once, he would do his absolute best to help Rika out of this sticky situation if she requested it. And Yoshiyuki knew that she would not only request justice but demand it. It appeared that the old man had a considerable amount of conscience and humanity in him—values that were unheard of in most successful lawyers like him. It was no secret that Kawabata found this little maneuver quite the breach of human rights.
"Choices," the lawyer had lectured back then. "People have the right to choose how to live their lives. Your daughter should have that right!"
And Juzo had answered back, "She does have a choice. She can choose between a business suit and a wedding kimono. Don't worry about it, my friend, I know what I'm doing."
And now Yoshiyuki hoped that his stepfather wasn't as senile as most people believed. Even a small mistake could make him lose Rika. One tiny opening could mean a one-way ticket back to that small town Tomoeda. And to that man Takashi.
Jealousy as he never knew before tore at his gut. He had not allowed himself to think of the man ever since Rika sighed his name in her sleep but he could barely stop the dark thoughts now.
Who the hell is this Takashi?
What is he to her?
Friend?
Boyfriend?
Lover?
Friends! They're definitely just friends! He tried to persuade himself with that assertive thought. It was obvious that this man was the one who took his messages for Rika. Just as it was obvious that whoever this Takashi was was close enough to her to be able to stay in her apartment late in the nights and early in the mornings to wake her up.
But how could that be? The last report that the private investigator they hired to check up on Rika had not included any boyfriend. Sure she dated some but there never was any serious relationship according to the P.I. Was the P.I. mistaken or was this Takashi a recent development?
Damn, I need a drink.
Yoshiyuki stopped pacing and stared hard at the closed door. The whiskey that he favored was in the study. Perhaps he could use that as an excuse to—
"Thirsty, sir?"
Godo appeared beside him bearing a tray with a decanter of brandy and a snifter. Yoshiyuki sighed in resignation and poured himself some of the amber liquid. It wasn't as if the two would actually continue their conversation while he was in the room so he might as well stay put. At least as 'put' as his pacing would allow.
"May I get you a chair, sir? I've already had the floor waxed and buffed this afternoon. Your shoes are ruining the shine" Godo's voice held that bored tone but his eyes reflected his amusement. Ahh, young love! I've forgotten how disconcerting it could be. Poor boy. He's in for quite a fight.
"What do you think, Godo-san?" Yoshiyuki abruptly stopped pacing and searched the butler's blank face.
"About what, sir?"
"Rika. Do you suppose she'll stay?" Yoshiyuki knew that Godo was aware of the content of Juzo's will. He was a master of the art of eavesdropping. He wouldn't be an excellent butler if he wasn't.
"I suppose she will. Never shirks from her duties, our Rika-chan, and have a strong conscience and a good heart. She won't do it for Sasaki-sama but she'll do it for the people who need their jobs in Sasaki Textiles."
The old man was right, of course. That was what Juzo had counted on—her good heart. It was what made Yoshiyuki fall in love with her. She was so kind to other people and often assigned herself as spokesperson of the wronged and abused. She would stay but she wouldn't do it for the people who had hurt her so badly.
Yoshiyuki recalled the appalled expression on her face when Kawabata read the last part of the letter. It knifed through his heart. Only Rika would consider marrying him appalling.
"She doesn't want to marry me," he grimaced, more because of the disturbing thought rather than the liquor that he'd been sipping.
"Begging your pardon, sir, but isn't it your job to make her want to marry you?"
"It's not an easy task."
"And when has it ever been easy to deal with Rika-sama? A piece of advice, though. I'm sure that she changed a lot over the years thus you need to change your tactics. I doubt if she'd appreciate you pulling on her hair and sticking out your tongue, tempting as it may seem. Care for another glass? No? Then summon me if you need anything else."
Well, I'll be damned, Yoshiyuki stared at the butler's retreating form with slacked jaw. Did he just hear the stuffy old man make an innuendo?
It was quite embarrassing for those were his fanciful thoughts the short time he had her in his arms during the ride home. Not the way he used to do when they were kids. He had this strong urge to bury his hand in her glorious curls and kiss her sense—and hate—away ever since he saw her again.
Yoshiyuki swallowed the rest of the brandy and welcomed its distraction as it scorched its way down to his empty stomach. At that moment the door of the study opened and the people in it stepped out—first Rika then Kawabata. He searched their expressions for any clue on how their meeting went but both had good poker faces on.
"Is everything in order, Kawabata-san?" Yoshiyuki decided to ask the amicable one.
"At the moment, yes."
"Will you be joining us for dinner then?"
"Ah, no. I've already declined Sasaki-chan's invitation. My son and his family are visiting from Tokyo and I'd like to tuck my grandchildren to bed. They're leaving tomorrow. I hope you don't mind."
"No, of course not," Yoshiyuki assured. "Give my regards to Ichiro."
"I will." Kawabata shook Yoshiyuki's outstretched hand and added a bow then turned to Rika, "If you have any questions, you have my card."
"Thank you." Rika joined Yoshiyuki in walking their guest to the door and they waited until the tail lights of Kawabata's car could no longer be seen.
Yoshiyuki turned to Rika to escort her inside but then noticed the bulky envelope she was holding. "What's that?"
She angled him an 'it's none of you business' look but answered nonetheless. "It's a copy of Father's last will and testament. Kawabata-san was kind enough to make me one since he knew I would want a second opinion. I'm going to have another lawyer probate the will. I will not have my future decided like I'm some ignorant and useless child."
"I'm nothing but a toy to both of you—played for your amusement," she ranted on as she stormed past him and up the stairs. "Nothing but a puppet. All my life my father pulled on the strings and you laughed along with him. I won't subject myself to Father's games again. He can't run my life. Not anymore."
"That's not what Juzo had intended!" Yoshiyuki grabbed Rika's arm and forced her to stop and face him. She was standing two steps up which brought them eye to eye. "He had no intention to run your life. Not then and definitely not now!"
"Oh, so you do know all about his plans. Tell me…what went on in my father's head when he wrote that despicable will? Was he still in denial that his little puppet found a spine of her own? And what about you, Yoshi? Couldn't get your hands on the inheritance so you agreed on marrying pathetic little Rika?"
His hand tightened on her arm. He wanted to slap her for that insulting remark. Instead, he held his hand where it was, caring very little if it was bruising her. He had forgotten how hurtful her words could be. It hurt even more because this was the woman he was in love with.
"I didn't agree to marry you for money or even the company for that matter," Yoshiyuki hissed.
"Then what, pray tell, is your ulterior motive? Please, enlighten me. It couldn't be because you actually want me."
This was not the time for revelations. Not when they were both hurting and eager to lash out. Not when her mind and heart were still closed from what he had to offer. Not when he was sure that the truth would only make her run away.
His clenched jaw prevented any answers to come out—not that he had any. Yoshiyuki loosened his grip and allowed her to escape. She turned quickly but not fast enough for him to miss the smirk on her face.
"I didn't think so," Rika let out a humorless laugh.
He watched her disappear beyond the landing and heard her bedroom door slam seconds later. He sighed in desperation and tried to rub away the beginnings of a migraine.
"I take it dinner will be cancelled?" Godo spoke from below.
Yoshiyuki began striding down the stairs. "Have a tray sent up to her room. She hasn't eaten anything since she arrived and I doubt if she ate during her trip."
"And you, sir?"
"Send one in the study."
Damn, I really need a drink.
~*~
Yoshiyuki woke up to the persistent pounding in his head. He groaned as he unfolded his body from the cramped sofa in Juzo's study. His stomach was unaccustomed to such a large quantity of whiskey and so was his head. He drank the night away to try to forget Rika only to find his dreams plagued by her.
Several minutes later, he emerged from the adjoining bathroom almost convinced that he was dead had it not been for his hangover. There was more banging and it took him a moment to realize that the sound came from outside the house rather than in his head. He opened the window and leaned out and saw a taxi driving away.
The feeling of dread coursed through his body as his brain started to function again. He rushed to the front door, not caring if he looked like he went to hell and back.
"Godo, tell me that wasn't Rika," Yoshiyuki demanded.
"I'm sorry, sir, but she insisted on catching her train this morning. I didn't even know she planned on leaving until she went down with her luggage and, sure enough, the cab arrived barely a minute later."
"She can't just get up and leave!" His brain was working overtime now, debating whether he should follow her or not. His car was fast enough to catch up with the cab even before it reached the train station.
"Rika-sama asked me to give you a message." Godo tried to capture Yoshiyuki's attention by blocking his way to the garage.
"What did she say?"
"She said she'll contact you in two weeks time. She also said she trusts you'll handle the company until further arrangements can be made."
"What the hell does that mean?" Yoshiyuki yelled his frustration. Rika was making his headache worse, never mind that she was the cause of it in the first place.
"I don't know, sir, and I can't make any speculations. She looks tired though. Poor child."
"What about me? I'm the one who's left hanging here. Two weeks!"
"You've waited for five years before this. Two weeks is nothing compared to that," Godo pointed out.
"Yes but I was sure she'd come home again."
"And now you're afraid that with Sasaki-sama gone, she might not come back."
Damn right I am.
To be continued…