Chapter 22 - The Invitation
Yuki awoke to the morning sun shining through her window. She stretched and yawned. "Gosh! I'm so tired," she muttered but smiled when she saw the knitted sweater. She had thought it was impossible to finish it in a day or so but when there's a will, there's a way. "I must pass this to him before he goes off for his holiday," she thought, folding the sweater, "I'll give him a call after breakfast."
Sojiro had invited her to join Akira and him on their trip to Paris for the holidays but she rejected the offer, as she had to work. She recalled the conversation they had:
"Why don't you come and join us?" suggested Sojiro, noticing the disappointment on Yuki's face when she was told of his Christmas plan, "It would be great to have another companion." Yuki smiled and tried to brush away her disappointment. She did not want Sojiro to feel obliged to keep her company on that day.
"No," she said, "You go ahead and have a good time. Besides, I've got to work and I need the cash." Sojiro felt torn between the two. He would love to spend Christmas with her; after all it was a very special day for girls. However, his buddy needs him as well. He sighed. And then, an idea hit him. "I tell you what," he said excitedly. Yuki looked surprised and questioned his excitement. "I'll pay you to join us," he continued, "You need not have to worry about forgoing your pay and still have a good time."
"Huh?!" exclaimed Yuki, more insulted than excited. "What's wrong?" asked Sojiro, puzzled by her expression. Her anger rose. "Do you know what you've just said is an insult to me?!" she exclaimed, "Don't think you can buy people off with money, especially me!" Sojiro was taken aback by her sudden outburst. "You can go on your own! I'm not going!" she said angrily, stomping off. "Yuki, wait up," called Sojiro. But Yuki had already ran off and disappeared round the corner.
"Maybe he didn't mean it that way," thought Yuki, pulling her knitted blouse over her head. She was really angry with him that night and had run off in a huff. "I should have given him a chance to explain," she sighed, looking at the knitted sweater. As angry as she was with him then, she had knitted that sweater for him. "Yuki," called her mother, "Are you up? Breakfast is ready."
"Coming," she replied, slotting the sweater into a paper bag. "Just as well," thought Yuki, opening her door, "Hope he'll like the sweater."
************
Shigeru came running down the stairs to the dining hall. "Morning," she greeted her parents. Yumiko shook her head. "Will you behave more like a lady," commented her mother, "You're about to be a wife and in future, a mother." Shigeru hugged her mother and replied, "It doesn't matter. I'll always be your child." Reiji smiled at the innocence of his daughter. "Well, my child," replied her father, "Sit and have your breakfast then."
"Yes, sir," replied Shigeru, taking her seat at the table. The maid entered with the breakfast, followed by the butler with the morning papers and mails. Her father looked through the mails and singled out a beige envelope. "This is from the Doumyoji Corporation," he said. Shigeru froze. "What is it about?" asked Yumiko anxiously. "It looks like an invitation," replied her husband as he looked into the envelope. Pulling out an embossed Victorian styled foil bordered card, he read: "Mr and Mrs Seiryo Doumyoji request the honour of your presence at a special event held on the 24th of December 2002 at 6 o'clock in the evening, Maple Hotel New York."
"What do you think that special event is?" choked Shigeru nervously. Her father shrugged. "It must be something big and important," replied her father, "The invitation has been addressed to the family." Shigeru stood up immediately and excused herself. "I've got something important to attend to," she announced, running off.
"Shigeru," called her mother but she has already disappeared from sight. "That girl," sighed Yumiko, shaking her head. "She must be worried for that friend of hers," said Reiji, "What's her name again?" Yumiko looked at her husband. "Makino Tsukushi," she replied, looking worried now that her husband mentioned her. "Are you all right?" asked her husband. Yumiko nodded. "I am," she replied, biting off a piece of her toast.
"Tsukushi must be in trouble," thought Shigeru anxiously as she picked up the phone and dialled the number. The line on the other side rang as she held on tightly for the receiver to pick it up. "Come on," she muttered.
************
The insistent ringing from his mobile awoke him. Akira turned on his side and answered it irritably. "Hello!" he growled. "It's me," came a shrilling voice over the phone. Akira knew who it was and answered, "Shigeru, don't you know that I've to catch up on my sleep?" Shigeru was not going to let up, knowing that her good friends could be in trouble. "Wake up!" she cried out, "You don't have time to sleep if you know what's happening!"
Akira jolted out of bed. He knew that Shigeru would never called him or Sojiro unless it's really important. "Did you check your mail today?" asked Shigeru. "Mind you, I'm still in bed and no, I've not seen the mails yet," replied Akira annoyingly as he slipped on his t-shirt, "Just fill me in on the details, will you?!"
"We've got an invitation from the Doumyojis," she said, "I think it's has something to do with Tsukasa." Akira listened intently. "What's written on the card?" asked Akira when she gulped for air. "Nothing," replied Shigeru, "It just says that it's to a special event and the family is to go...I smell something fishy."
"Calm down," said Akira, "It could be just some launch or merger celebration. Did you try calling Tsubaki-oneesan? Tsukasa did say that they were going to join her for Christmas." Shigeru, with eyes dotted, paused. "Why didn't I think of that?" she said. Akira sighed and before he could say further, Shigeru had informed that she'd call Tsubaki and had bid farewell. "Muddle-head," sighed Akira, "Wonder what Minami sees in her?"
************
Sojiro took a seat on the bench and watched the people hurrying past to get to their offices. He glanced at his watch. "She should be here soon," muttered Sojiro. Yuki had arranged to meet in the park opposite the dango shop before she started work. "I must remember to apologise for that awful suggestion...What was I thinking?!" He slapped his palm on his forehead. "Morning," greeted a chirpy voice. Sojiro smiled. "Morning," he replied, "Er...Enough time before you start work?"
Yuki nodded. "Well, wanted to give you this before you leave for your holiday," said Yuki, handing over a paper bag. Sojiro looked at it. "What's in there?" he asked. Yuki shrugged. "Can I?" he asked again. Yuki nodded. "Er...before I do that," said Sojiro, "I want to apologise for that suggestion I made..." Yuki shook her head. "It's all right," she replied, "Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?" asked Sojiro. "Go ahead, open it," she urged, "Hope you'll like it." Sojiro opened the bag and looked curiously into it. He placed his hand in and pulled out the knitted indigo sweater. His eyes lit. "Did you knit this?" he choked, surprised that Yuki had a craft talent. "It's your Christmas present," explained Yuki, "I tried buying you a gift but it was really difficult so I..." Before she could complete her sentence, Sojiro had drawn her lips to his.
************
Shigeru paced the floor around her room as she listened to the ringing tone on the other line. "She's not picking up her mobile," muttered Shigeru anxiously, "Don't tell me that Tsubaki-oneesan has heard about it too! She's probably on her way to save them now..." Pushing the 'flash' button, Shigeru dialled Akira's number.
"Hello," answered Akira. "Akira!" cried out Shigeru, "I can't get hold of her! We must leave for New York now!" Her shrilling voice was so loud that Akira had to hold his mobile away from his ear. "Akira!" exclaimed Shigeru, "Are you there?! Did you hear what I've just said?!"
"I hear you," replied Akira, "Will you just calm down? I have to get hold of Sojiro before we decide on our move." Silence. "I forgot to call him," she said, "I forgot to call Tomoya. I forgot to cancel our date!" Akira listened with amusement. "I'll call you back later," said Shigeru, "Remember to call Sojiro...er...By the way, did you get the invitation?"
"Yes, I did," replied Akira, "Go and call Minami now. I'll contact Sojiro." As he dialled Sojiro's number, Akira shook his head. "I can't believe she's that muddle-headed!" he mumbled, placing his mobile to his ear.
************
"Thank you," said Sojiro. An embarrassed Yuki nodded. Either spoke as they looked at each other; the silence broken by the ringing of Sojiro's mobile. "Sorry," he said as he dig into his pocket for his mobile. "Akira," he said, "What's up?"
"Where are you now?" asked Akira. "I'm out. Has something happened?" replied Sojiro. "You bet," said Akira, "Did you check your family's mails today?...er...Since you're out, I guess not. Anyway..." Sojiro listened to Akira intently. Yuki watched as his facial expression changes with each nod and response. "All right, then," said Sojiro, "I'll meet you at the airport."
As he put his phone back into his pocket, he looked seriously at Yuki. "I think Makino is in trouble," he said, "We have to leave for New York now." Yuki stared at him in bewilderment. "N...Now?" she croaked. Sojiro nodded. "You're coming with me," he ordered, taking her hand and dragging her to the waiting limousine. "W...Wait!" exclaimed Yuki, "I've got to inform my..."
"You can do it on the way to the airport," said Sojiro, "We'll go back to your place and get your passport. You have a passport, right?" Yuki nodded. "Well, leave everything else to me then," he said, sliding in next to her.
Yuki awoke to the morning sun shining through her window. She stretched and yawned. "Gosh! I'm so tired," she muttered but smiled when she saw the knitted sweater. She had thought it was impossible to finish it in a day or so but when there's a will, there's a way. "I must pass this to him before he goes off for his holiday," she thought, folding the sweater, "I'll give him a call after breakfast."
Sojiro had invited her to join Akira and him on their trip to Paris for the holidays but she rejected the offer, as she had to work. She recalled the conversation they had:
"Why don't you come and join us?" suggested Sojiro, noticing the disappointment on Yuki's face when she was told of his Christmas plan, "It would be great to have another companion." Yuki smiled and tried to brush away her disappointment. She did not want Sojiro to feel obliged to keep her company on that day.
"No," she said, "You go ahead and have a good time. Besides, I've got to work and I need the cash." Sojiro felt torn between the two. He would love to spend Christmas with her; after all it was a very special day for girls. However, his buddy needs him as well. He sighed. And then, an idea hit him. "I tell you what," he said excitedly. Yuki looked surprised and questioned his excitement. "I'll pay you to join us," he continued, "You need not have to worry about forgoing your pay and still have a good time."
"Huh?!" exclaimed Yuki, more insulted than excited. "What's wrong?" asked Sojiro, puzzled by her expression. Her anger rose. "Do you know what you've just said is an insult to me?!" she exclaimed, "Don't think you can buy people off with money, especially me!" Sojiro was taken aback by her sudden outburst. "You can go on your own! I'm not going!" she said angrily, stomping off. "Yuki, wait up," called Sojiro. But Yuki had already ran off and disappeared round the corner.
"Maybe he didn't mean it that way," thought Yuki, pulling her knitted blouse over her head. She was really angry with him that night and had run off in a huff. "I should have given him a chance to explain," she sighed, looking at the knitted sweater. As angry as she was with him then, she had knitted that sweater for him. "Yuki," called her mother, "Are you up? Breakfast is ready."
"Coming," she replied, slotting the sweater into a paper bag. "Just as well," thought Yuki, opening her door, "Hope he'll like the sweater."
************
Shigeru came running down the stairs to the dining hall. "Morning," she greeted her parents. Yumiko shook her head. "Will you behave more like a lady," commented her mother, "You're about to be a wife and in future, a mother." Shigeru hugged her mother and replied, "It doesn't matter. I'll always be your child." Reiji smiled at the innocence of his daughter. "Well, my child," replied her father, "Sit and have your breakfast then."
"Yes, sir," replied Shigeru, taking her seat at the table. The maid entered with the breakfast, followed by the butler with the morning papers and mails. Her father looked through the mails and singled out a beige envelope. "This is from the Doumyoji Corporation," he said. Shigeru froze. "What is it about?" asked Yumiko anxiously. "It looks like an invitation," replied her husband as he looked into the envelope. Pulling out an embossed Victorian styled foil bordered card, he read: "Mr and Mrs Seiryo Doumyoji request the honour of your presence at a special event held on the 24th of December 2002 at 6 o'clock in the evening, Maple Hotel New York."
"What do you think that special event is?" choked Shigeru nervously. Her father shrugged. "It must be something big and important," replied her father, "The invitation has been addressed to the family." Shigeru stood up immediately and excused herself. "I've got something important to attend to," she announced, running off.
"Shigeru," called her mother but she has already disappeared from sight. "That girl," sighed Yumiko, shaking her head. "She must be worried for that friend of hers," said Reiji, "What's her name again?" Yumiko looked at her husband. "Makino Tsukushi," she replied, looking worried now that her husband mentioned her. "Are you all right?" asked her husband. Yumiko nodded. "I am," she replied, biting off a piece of her toast.
"Tsukushi must be in trouble," thought Shigeru anxiously as she picked up the phone and dialled the number. The line on the other side rang as she held on tightly for the receiver to pick it up. "Come on," she muttered.
************
The insistent ringing from his mobile awoke him. Akira turned on his side and answered it irritably. "Hello!" he growled. "It's me," came a shrilling voice over the phone. Akira knew who it was and answered, "Shigeru, don't you know that I've to catch up on my sleep?" Shigeru was not going to let up, knowing that her good friends could be in trouble. "Wake up!" she cried out, "You don't have time to sleep if you know what's happening!"
Akira jolted out of bed. He knew that Shigeru would never called him or Sojiro unless it's really important. "Did you check your mail today?" asked Shigeru. "Mind you, I'm still in bed and no, I've not seen the mails yet," replied Akira annoyingly as he slipped on his t-shirt, "Just fill me in on the details, will you?!"
"We've got an invitation from the Doumyojis," she said, "I think it's has something to do with Tsukasa." Akira listened intently. "What's written on the card?" asked Akira when she gulped for air. "Nothing," replied Shigeru, "It just says that it's to a special event and the family is to go...I smell something fishy."
"Calm down," said Akira, "It could be just some launch or merger celebration. Did you try calling Tsubaki-oneesan? Tsukasa did say that they were going to join her for Christmas." Shigeru, with eyes dotted, paused. "Why didn't I think of that?" she said. Akira sighed and before he could say further, Shigeru had informed that she'd call Tsubaki and had bid farewell. "Muddle-head," sighed Akira, "Wonder what Minami sees in her?"
************
Sojiro took a seat on the bench and watched the people hurrying past to get to their offices. He glanced at his watch. "She should be here soon," muttered Sojiro. Yuki had arranged to meet in the park opposite the dango shop before she started work. "I must remember to apologise for that awful suggestion...What was I thinking?!" He slapped his palm on his forehead. "Morning," greeted a chirpy voice. Sojiro smiled. "Morning," he replied, "Er...Enough time before you start work?"
Yuki nodded. "Well, wanted to give you this before you leave for your holiday," said Yuki, handing over a paper bag. Sojiro looked at it. "What's in there?" he asked. Yuki shrugged. "Can I?" he asked again. Yuki nodded. "Er...before I do that," said Sojiro, "I want to apologise for that suggestion I made..." Yuki shook her head. "It's all right," she replied, "Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?" asked Sojiro. "Go ahead, open it," she urged, "Hope you'll like it." Sojiro opened the bag and looked curiously into it. He placed his hand in and pulled out the knitted indigo sweater. His eyes lit. "Did you knit this?" he choked, surprised that Yuki had a craft talent. "It's your Christmas present," explained Yuki, "I tried buying you a gift but it was really difficult so I..." Before she could complete her sentence, Sojiro had drawn her lips to his.
************
Shigeru paced the floor around her room as she listened to the ringing tone on the other line. "She's not picking up her mobile," muttered Shigeru anxiously, "Don't tell me that Tsubaki-oneesan has heard about it too! She's probably on her way to save them now..." Pushing the 'flash' button, Shigeru dialled Akira's number.
"Hello," answered Akira. "Akira!" cried out Shigeru, "I can't get hold of her! We must leave for New York now!" Her shrilling voice was so loud that Akira had to hold his mobile away from his ear. "Akira!" exclaimed Shigeru, "Are you there?! Did you hear what I've just said?!"
"I hear you," replied Akira, "Will you just calm down? I have to get hold of Sojiro before we decide on our move." Silence. "I forgot to call him," she said, "I forgot to call Tomoya. I forgot to cancel our date!" Akira listened with amusement. "I'll call you back later," said Shigeru, "Remember to call Sojiro...er...By the way, did you get the invitation?"
"Yes, I did," replied Akira, "Go and call Minami now. I'll contact Sojiro." As he dialled Sojiro's number, Akira shook his head. "I can't believe she's that muddle-headed!" he mumbled, placing his mobile to his ear.
************
"Thank you," said Sojiro. An embarrassed Yuki nodded. Either spoke as they looked at each other; the silence broken by the ringing of Sojiro's mobile. "Sorry," he said as he dig into his pocket for his mobile. "Akira," he said, "What's up?"
"Where are you now?" asked Akira. "I'm out. Has something happened?" replied Sojiro. "You bet," said Akira, "Did you check your family's mails today?...er...Since you're out, I guess not. Anyway..." Sojiro listened to Akira intently. Yuki watched as his facial expression changes with each nod and response. "All right, then," said Sojiro, "I'll meet you at the airport."
As he put his phone back into his pocket, he looked seriously at Yuki. "I think Makino is in trouble," he said, "We have to leave for New York now." Yuki stared at him in bewilderment. "N...Now?" she croaked. Sojiro nodded. "You're coming with me," he ordered, taking her hand and dragging her to the waiting limousine. "W...Wait!" exclaimed Yuki, "I've got to inform my..."
"You can do it on the way to the airport," said Sojiro, "We'll go back to your place and get your passport. You have a passport, right?" Yuki nodded. "Well, leave everything else to me then," he said, sliding in next to her.