Two hearts, one love.
Chapter 8: Introducing Hiragazaki Akina
Kai's POV
I scowled at my reflection as I buttoned up my black silk shirt in the mirror.
I so did not want to go to this function. Melissa would probably be there and I'd have to face up with what happened last week. Not that I was afraid of my father or anything, it's just that he could make life quite unpleasant. Last time when I openly insulted some daughter of one of my father's business clients, he took my car away and I had to take lifts from Tala and Rei for a few weeks.
No, I would have to do this whether I wanted to or not. It was my duty as a Hiwatari.
I waited patiently in the foyer for my mother to come down. My father had decided to go to the function from work. "Kai, we'll be taking the limousine" Mum said, entering the foyer.
"Where is the function being held anyway?" I asked.
"In the ballroom at Tokyo hotel." She answered. "But I daresay that your father will invite a few of the 'select' business men back to the house for a more private discussion" I smirked. At least I could be sure Melissa's father wouldn't be invited back.
"Who exactly will be attending the function?" I asked curiously.
"Well, practically all the most important business men and women in Asia will attend. Each will bring their family and perhaps some representatives from their company" mum replied.
I rolled my eyes. No wonder my father was using our hotel's ballroom to accommodate them all. Tokyo Hotel was without a doubt the most lavish, prestigious and profitable hotel in Japan. And my family owned it. I sighed as I climbed into the limo after my mother.
Upon arriving at the hotel, my mother glided through the hallways, to the main ballroom. The hotel had several ballrooms, each attached to the other in some way. I wondered if food would be served. Like real food, not those finger food stuff that didn't fill you up unless you eat like fifty. And believe me, I know.
"I don't believe Mr. Hiragazaki and his daughter are here yet. So go and-" she began glancing around the room.
"Socialize?" I finished for her.
"Yes, please do" she requested before dropping her voice to a whisper "I have to as well. Don't think that I like it any more than you do" and then she left and was instantly surrounded by crowd of woman with sparkly cocktail dresses several sizes too small for them.
After half an hour or so of endless chatter about school related topics with a few narrow-minded snobs, my mother found me and told me we were to meet our father. Hiding my scowl, I politely excused myself from the conversation and followed her to where my father was standing in the middle of a large ring composed of many business men and women.
"Ah, Kai. There you are. I'm sure you remember Mr. Hiragazaki?" my father said to me.
"Yes father." I responded and turned to see Mr. Hiragazaki standing next to him. "It's good to see you again Mr. Hiragazaki" I said smiling for the benefit of my father.
"Well, why don't I introduce you to my daughter? I'm sure you'll both get on marvelously" he replied as he turned around to face a girl's back. "Akina?" he called out to her.
"Yes father?" she replied and turned around.
I froze, staring into familiar baby blue eyes with emerald specks in them.
"Allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Hiragazaki Akina" Mr. Hiragazaki said.
I was speechless for a moment before my mother gently nudged me.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Hiragazaki Akina" I managed to get out.
"Likewise, I am sure" she replied smiling slowly.
Glancing over at my father, he curtly nodded and I held my hand out. She placed he hand in mine and I lifted it to my lips gently and lowered it back down. At least Rei wasn't around to see this.
"Well why don't we begin the dinner now?" my father suggested, returning to his role as host.
As sat down, Crystal or should I say Hiragazaki Akina was seated next to me. I didn't find this surprising as my father would've doubtlessly arranged this. Sighing, I thought that at least we'd be eating real food.
"So Hiragazaki-san, what school do you attend?" my mother asked her kindly.
"Please call me, Akina." Crystal replied smiling. "I attend St. Xavier Secondary College, Mrs. Hiwatari."
"Well If I'm going to call you Akina, it would only be fit if you called me Katrina" my mother answered.
Great, my mother and the brat were on first name basis now.
"Is that so? Then you go to school with my son" my father said interested.
"Yes, I do. I'm in most of his classes" Crystal responded softly.
"Well, this is certainly interesting Kevin. Both our children, in the same class." Mr. Hiragazaki commented.
"Akina, your name means 'Spring Flower' right?" my mother enquired.
"Yes, it does" Crystal replied.
I glanced over at my father to see him silently telling me to say something. I sighed, great.
"Are you finding school in Japan different from yours in Hong Kong" I said at an attempt to make conversation.
"It is very interesting, the teaching methods here are different" Crystal replied after some thought.
And so that was how it went for the rest of the dinner. Polite conversation all the way. I was bored stiff by the time it was over.
"Kai, why don't you and Crystal go and look around?" my father said pointedly after we were finished. "Dessert will be served in half an hour or so"
"Yes father" I said obediently, took Crystal's hand and led her away from the table into another ballroom which wasn't as crowded.
"So Kai-kun, have you done the maths homework yet?" she asked almost casually.
"You want to talk about maths homework now?" I asked in disbelief.
"Sure, why not?" she replied.
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" I questioned.
"It's simple really. I knew you would be here so it came as no surprise really" she answered.
"Well then how come you never bought it up?" I snapped.
"Tsk, tsk Kai. Didn't your parents tell you to socialize particularly with me?" she said lightly. "Anyway, it's not like you asked me whether I was Mr. Li Hiragazaki's daughter. I don't like to boast you know"
"But your name's Crystal Chan isn't it?" I asked in confusion.
"My English name is Crystal. My Chinese name is Chan Mei-Lin. So when I came to Japan I decided to use my English first name and my Chinese surname instead. My Japanese name is Hiragazaki Akina; it's what my father calls me." She answered.
"Well, well, well" a voice behind us said. "Look who it is"
I groaned inwardly. Please not now, I thought as me and Crystal slowly turned around to face the voice.
"Kai sweetie-pie! I've been looking all over for you!" Melissa exclaimed and rushed at me.
Instinctively I stepped aside to avoid her hug and she ended up falling down at Crystal's feet.
I saw Crystal's eyes narrow as she looked down at Melissa who was now getting up. I wondered whether Crystal would kick Melissa's ass again. But then I remember where I was. At the Tokyo Hotel. I didn't know whether Crystal would care about where she kicked Melissa's ass.
As Melissa got up, she faced Crystal who was still holding my hand.
"You" she spat.
"I have a name you know" Crystal replied pleasantly.
"Like I care about your name. You were the one who answered Kai's phone the other day, right?" Melissa said angrily.
"Yes, that's correct. Don't forget I was also the once who kicked your ass last week at the shops." Crystal reminded her. "I believe the paramedics had to be summoned"
"How dare you insult me" Melissa cried out. "Who do you think you are?"
"Must you always ask that question?" Crystal said, shaking her head. "I know that I said that I prefer to keep my father's name disclosed but I think that this situation calls for it since she did ask me" she whispered into my ear.
"Well? What are you doing here? You're probably just some whore who snuck in" Melissa said tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"You really want to know what I'm doing here?" Crystal replied, her lips curving into a smile. "Fine I'll tell you. My name is Hiragazaki Akina and this formal function is being held in my father, Mr. Hiragazaki's honor"
Melissa started at her for a moment before paling considerably. "Your father is Mr. Li Hiragazaki?" she finally managed to say trembling.
"Yes" Crystal said in a bored tone, inspecting her nails.
I checked my watch and realized that dessert was about to start.
"Hiragazaki, dessert is about to be served" I reminded her promptly.
"Okay" Crystal replied as she slipped her hand in mine.
"So what should I call you? Hiragazaki or Crystal?" I asked her.
"You may call me Akina out of school and Crystal when we're in school" she replied after a moment of thought.
"Shouldn't I call you Hiragazaki-san?" I said.
"No" she said smiling. "I call you by your first name Kai-kun. So why shouldn't you?" she answered.
"Akina, I'm glad to see you're getting on well with Hiwatari Kai" her father said as we approached the table.
"Well, shall we begin with dessert?" my father asked waving his hand towards a table.
"Come on Kai-kun" Akina said tugging at my hand in the direction of the dessert table.
I had to admit, the chefs had outdone themselves this time. There dozens of different cakes, fruit and slices as well as many different desserts which I had never seen before. I heard Akina sigh in happiness next to me and I smirked. She had such a sweet tooth. I grabbed a plate and asked her what she wanted.
"Everything!" she said bursting into giggles while taking the plate from me.
Man, she hadn't even had any sugar yet.
After Akina piled her plate with desserts, we headed back to the table.
I saw my mother look at us with amusement and I scowled. At least Akina wasn't a snob.
"Open up Kai-kun" she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"So that you can eat!" she said.
"What-" I began to say but was cut off when a spoonful of chocolate cake was stuffed into my mouth. I didn't want to eat cake but I didn't want to choke either. So I swallowed. When I finished I glared at Akina who was giggling madly.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"I didn't want to eat cake" I grumbled.
"Well you're going to help me finish this plate of dessert whether you want to or not" Akina said, her eyes twinkling.
"I'd like to see you try and make me" I said stubbornly, crossing my arms.
"Oh really? Do you want a plate full of cake stuffed down your throat" she asked teasingly.
"Give me the fork" I said scowling.
"I can't eat another mouthful" Akina said after a while.
"Really?" I asked, a plan forming in my mind.
"Yeah, you-" she began but never finished as it was me this time who shoved a spoonful of chocolate mousse down her throat. Her eyes widened comically before she promptly swallowed.
"Hey, that wasn't fair" she protested.
"You did it to me before" I said shrugging.
"Kai, we're going back to the house" my father informed me as he swept past the table with Mr. Hiragazaki and some other business people. I looked over at Akina.
"I suppose you'll be coming too" I said without looking at her.
Okay, there you have it, now you know that Crystal is Mr. Hiragazaki's daughter. Now that I look at it, this was a really long chapter. Don't forget to review if you want more.
Chapter 8: Introducing Hiragazaki Akina
Kai's POV
I scowled at my reflection as I buttoned up my black silk shirt in the mirror.
I so did not want to go to this function. Melissa would probably be there and I'd have to face up with what happened last week. Not that I was afraid of my father or anything, it's just that he could make life quite unpleasant. Last time when I openly insulted some daughter of one of my father's business clients, he took my car away and I had to take lifts from Tala and Rei for a few weeks.
No, I would have to do this whether I wanted to or not. It was my duty as a Hiwatari.
I waited patiently in the foyer for my mother to come down. My father had decided to go to the function from work. "Kai, we'll be taking the limousine" Mum said, entering the foyer.
"Where is the function being held anyway?" I asked.
"In the ballroom at Tokyo hotel." She answered. "But I daresay that your father will invite a few of the 'select' business men back to the house for a more private discussion" I smirked. At least I could be sure Melissa's father wouldn't be invited back.
"Who exactly will be attending the function?" I asked curiously.
"Well, practically all the most important business men and women in Asia will attend. Each will bring their family and perhaps some representatives from their company" mum replied.
I rolled my eyes. No wonder my father was using our hotel's ballroom to accommodate them all. Tokyo Hotel was without a doubt the most lavish, prestigious and profitable hotel in Japan. And my family owned it. I sighed as I climbed into the limo after my mother.
Upon arriving at the hotel, my mother glided through the hallways, to the main ballroom. The hotel had several ballrooms, each attached to the other in some way. I wondered if food would be served. Like real food, not those finger food stuff that didn't fill you up unless you eat like fifty. And believe me, I know.
"I don't believe Mr. Hiragazaki and his daughter are here yet. So go and-" she began glancing around the room.
"Socialize?" I finished for her.
"Yes, please do" she requested before dropping her voice to a whisper "I have to as well. Don't think that I like it any more than you do" and then she left and was instantly surrounded by crowd of woman with sparkly cocktail dresses several sizes too small for them.
After half an hour or so of endless chatter about school related topics with a few narrow-minded snobs, my mother found me and told me we were to meet our father. Hiding my scowl, I politely excused myself from the conversation and followed her to where my father was standing in the middle of a large ring composed of many business men and women.
"Ah, Kai. There you are. I'm sure you remember Mr. Hiragazaki?" my father said to me.
"Yes father." I responded and turned to see Mr. Hiragazaki standing next to him. "It's good to see you again Mr. Hiragazaki" I said smiling for the benefit of my father.
"Well, why don't I introduce you to my daughter? I'm sure you'll both get on marvelously" he replied as he turned around to face a girl's back. "Akina?" he called out to her.
"Yes father?" she replied and turned around.
I froze, staring into familiar baby blue eyes with emerald specks in them.
"Allow me to introduce you to my daughter, Hiragazaki Akina" Mr. Hiragazaki said.
I was speechless for a moment before my mother gently nudged me.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Hiragazaki Akina" I managed to get out.
"Likewise, I am sure" she replied smiling slowly.
Glancing over at my father, he curtly nodded and I held my hand out. She placed he hand in mine and I lifted it to my lips gently and lowered it back down. At least Rei wasn't around to see this.
"Well why don't we begin the dinner now?" my father suggested, returning to his role as host.
As sat down, Crystal or should I say Hiragazaki Akina was seated next to me. I didn't find this surprising as my father would've doubtlessly arranged this. Sighing, I thought that at least we'd be eating real food.
"So Hiragazaki-san, what school do you attend?" my mother asked her kindly.
"Please call me, Akina." Crystal replied smiling. "I attend St. Xavier Secondary College, Mrs. Hiwatari."
"Well If I'm going to call you Akina, it would only be fit if you called me Katrina" my mother answered.
Great, my mother and the brat were on first name basis now.
"Is that so? Then you go to school with my son" my father said interested.
"Yes, I do. I'm in most of his classes" Crystal responded softly.
"Well, this is certainly interesting Kevin. Both our children, in the same class." Mr. Hiragazaki commented.
"Akina, your name means 'Spring Flower' right?" my mother enquired.
"Yes, it does" Crystal replied.
I glanced over at my father to see him silently telling me to say something. I sighed, great.
"Are you finding school in Japan different from yours in Hong Kong" I said at an attempt to make conversation.
"It is very interesting, the teaching methods here are different" Crystal replied after some thought.
And so that was how it went for the rest of the dinner. Polite conversation all the way. I was bored stiff by the time it was over.
"Kai, why don't you and Crystal go and look around?" my father said pointedly after we were finished. "Dessert will be served in half an hour or so"
"Yes father" I said obediently, took Crystal's hand and led her away from the table into another ballroom which wasn't as crowded.
"So Kai-kun, have you done the maths homework yet?" she asked almost casually.
"You want to talk about maths homework now?" I asked in disbelief.
"Sure, why not?" she replied.
"How can you be so calm at a time like this?" I questioned.
"It's simple really. I knew you would be here so it came as no surprise really" she answered.
"Well then how come you never bought it up?" I snapped.
"Tsk, tsk Kai. Didn't your parents tell you to socialize particularly with me?" she said lightly. "Anyway, it's not like you asked me whether I was Mr. Li Hiragazaki's daughter. I don't like to boast you know"
"But your name's Crystal Chan isn't it?" I asked in confusion.
"My English name is Crystal. My Chinese name is Chan Mei-Lin. So when I came to Japan I decided to use my English first name and my Chinese surname instead. My Japanese name is Hiragazaki Akina; it's what my father calls me." She answered.
"Well, well, well" a voice behind us said. "Look who it is"
I groaned inwardly. Please not now, I thought as me and Crystal slowly turned around to face the voice.
"Kai sweetie-pie! I've been looking all over for you!" Melissa exclaimed and rushed at me.
Instinctively I stepped aside to avoid her hug and she ended up falling down at Crystal's feet.
I saw Crystal's eyes narrow as she looked down at Melissa who was now getting up. I wondered whether Crystal would kick Melissa's ass again. But then I remember where I was. At the Tokyo Hotel. I didn't know whether Crystal would care about where she kicked Melissa's ass.
As Melissa got up, she faced Crystal who was still holding my hand.
"You" she spat.
"I have a name you know" Crystal replied pleasantly.
"Like I care about your name. You were the one who answered Kai's phone the other day, right?" Melissa said angrily.
"Yes, that's correct. Don't forget I was also the once who kicked your ass last week at the shops." Crystal reminded her. "I believe the paramedics had to be summoned"
"How dare you insult me" Melissa cried out. "Who do you think you are?"
"Must you always ask that question?" Crystal said, shaking her head. "I know that I said that I prefer to keep my father's name disclosed but I think that this situation calls for it since she did ask me" she whispered into my ear.
"Well? What are you doing here? You're probably just some whore who snuck in" Melissa said tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"You really want to know what I'm doing here?" Crystal replied, her lips curving into a smile. "Fine I'll tell you. My name is Hiragazaki Akina and this formal function is being held in my father, Mr. Hiragazaki's honor"
Melissa started at her for a moment before paling considerably. "Your father is Mr. Li Hiragazaki?" she finally managed to say trembling.
"Yes" Crystal said in a bored tone, inspecting her nails.
I checked my watch and realized that dessert was about to start.
"Hiragazaki, dessert is about to be served" I reminded her promptly.
"Okay" Crystal replied as she slipped her hand in mine.
"So what should I call you? Hiragazaki or Crystal?" I asked her.
"You may call me Akina out of school and Crystal when we're in school" she replied after a moment of thought.
"Shouldn't I call you Hiragazaki-san?" I said.
"No" she said smiling. "I call you by your first name Kai-kun. So why shouldn't you?" she answered.
"Akina, I'm glad to see you're getting on well with Hiwatari Kai" her father said as we approached the table.
"Well, shall we begin with dessert?" my father asked waving his hand towards a table.
"Come on Kai-kun" Akina said tugging at my hand in the direction of the dessert table.
I had to admit, the chefs had outdone themselves this time. There dozens of different cakes, fruit and slices as well as many different desserts which I had never seen before. I heard Akina sigh in happiness next to me and I smirked. She had such a sweet tooth. I grabbed a plate and asked her what she wanted.
"Everything!" she said bursting into giggles while taking the plate from me.
Man, she hadn't even had any sugar yet.
After Akina piled her plate with desserts, we headed back to the table.
I saw my mother look at us with amusement and I scowled. At least Akina wasn't a snob.
"Open up Kai-kun" she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"So that you can eat!" she said.
"What-" I began to say but was cut off when a spoonful of chocolate cake was stuffed into my mouth. I didn't want to eat cake but I didn't want to choke either. So I swallowed. When I finished I glared at Akina who was giggling madly.
"What?" she asked innocently.
"I didn't want to eat cake" I grumbled.
"Well you're going to help me finish this plate of dessert whether you want to or not" Akina said, her eyes twinkling.
"I'd like to see you try and make me" I said stubbornly, crossing my arms.
"Oh really? Do you want a plate full of cake stuffed down your throat" she asked teasingly.
"Give me the fork" I said scowling.
"I can't eat another mouthful" Akina said after a while.
"Really?" I asked, a plan forming in my mind.
"Yeah, you-" she began but never finished as it was me this time who shoved a spoonful of chocolate mousse down her throat. Her eyes widened comically before she promptly swallowed.
"Hey, that wasn't fair" she protested.
"You did it to me before" I said shrugging.
"Kai, we're going back to the house" my father informed me as he swept past the table with Mr. Hiragazaki and some other business people. I looked over at Akina.
"I suppose you'll be coming too" I said without looking at her.
Okay, there you have it, now you know that Crystal is Mr. Hiragazaki's daughter. Now that I look at it, this was a really long chapter. Don't forget to review if you want more.