Gray Stones
Hey there all the lovely readers out there! I'm back again with Chapter 6 of "Gray Stones"! I hope you'll all enjoy this chapter! I know I will! It's a really fun one, that's for sure!
Okay, so don't forget to review! The story's coming towards its end (6/8) so tune in and have fun, okay?
Black Tunnels
"Do you remember when we first met?" Sanami asked Akira. The two were seated in Sanami's limousine, Akira looking very uncomfortable, and Sanami dressed in a white strapless dress with black lining. On her feet were white platform boots, and she wore black sunglasses.
"Yes…" Akira said. "It's a painful memory though."
"Why? Cause I held you hostage in my limo?"
"Yes, most people enjoy freedom, you know. Why are you bringing this up now?" Akira asked, frowning and looking down from his Go book.
"I was just thinking about it," Sanami said, grinning. "You haven't been in my limo in a while, you know."
"I see you're just as outward about your money as ever," Akira said, eyeing the designer outfit.
"Hey! This outfit only cost 400,000 yen!" she wrinkled her nose. "And I actually have a reason this time, you know!"
"What reason is that?" Akira asked.
Sanami sighed, taking off her sunglasses and opening up the compartment in front of her. Akira looked confused as Sanami pulled out a black formal blazer and put it on. She also took off her platforms and replaced them with black high heels. She looked quite professional now. "What are you doing?" Akira asked.
"The reason I brought you along today is because Daddy is having a business lunch party," she told him. "But he can't be there. He's in England right now, and I have to represent him along with Kosuke."
Akira frowned. It was obvious that Sanami was hurt by this. Not because she had been forced to go to the lunch, but because her father had not even bothered to show up. She was supposed to act in his stead when she probably hadn't seen him for months.
"Why…did you bring me along?" Akira asked.
"As my date of course!" Sanami said, winking flirtatiously. "Why do you think I told you to dress nice over the phone?" Akira was dressed in a black suit and tie, at Sanami's request, but had kept the pants to long shorts as not to look like a little boy playing dress up in his father's clothes. "You're the perfect date! Akira Toya, son of Toya Meijin! Go prodigy!"
"So you brought me along for the image…?" Akira asked, looking suspiciously at Sanami.
"Jeez, don't getyour boxers in a bunch," Sanami frowned. "I brought you because I wanted to. It'll be a really boring party and everything, but you'll make it fun."
Akira sighed. 'I'd make it fun…?' Sanami was a strange girl. Akira didn't consider himself a comedian, or someone who made people laugh around him. He knew he was on the serious side. But, for some reason, Sanami found his personality fun and exciting. Maybe it was because he was her scapegoat for her "games" and "fun".
"Oh! We're here!" Sanami announced as she looked out the window of the limo. Akira looked out as well, but couldn't see anything behind Sanami's head. The door was opened by the driver, and Sanami stepped out, followed by Akira.
Akira found himself standing in front of a huge building that seemed to be some sort of banquet hall or theater. There were many important looking people with drinks standing outside, talking and laughing with one another. A red rug stood in front of the entrance, and Akira was reminded of Award Shows in America he had seen on TV.
"C'mon!" snapped Sanami, grabbing Akira's arm and jerking him out of his observations. "I see Kosuke up there near the entrance!"
Akira looked up as Sanami dragged him along and saw that Kosuke Shibahime was indeed standing in front of the building, talking to a man and his wife. "Yes, Makamura-san. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation you gave. Matsu'ura-san did as well, I'm sure."
"Glad to hear it!" Makamura laughed. "I had my people working on that presentation for days! Has Matsu'ura-san given you a response to my offer yet?"
"I'm afraid that Matsu'ura-san is still debating over his decision," Kosuke told him, smiling. "But, just as a personal opinion, I think that the odds look very much in your favor."
"Heh!" Makamura gave a triumphant grin. "Glad to hear it, Shibahime-kun! I'll get back to you later. Have I introduced you to my niece yet? She's about your age, you know."
"If she's anything like your lovely wife, I would be happy to meet her," bowed Kosuke, offering the compliment to Makamura's wife, who smiled.
"What a polite young man. I think Chieko would like him," she smiled.
"This always happens to Kosuke," Sanami whispered to Akira. Akira looked over at Sanami as she rolled her eyes. "I kind of feel bad for him. He's Daddy's assistant, and so big business men are always trying to get their daughters or their nieces with him. But, as far as I know, he's never been out with any of them. Maybe he's queer…"
"Sanami…" Akira muttered, looking at the girl with a reproachful look. "It's rude to talk about someone's relationships behind their back. He might be married."
"Nah," Sanami shook her head, winking. "He's single. But he's getting up there! Did you know he's only eight months from thirty?"
"People getting married later is more common nowadays," Akira reminded her, but Sanami didn't pay him any mind.
"Sanami!" Kosuke called to the girl, and Makamura-san and his wife looked over at the girl. Sanami gave a surprisingly nice smile and walked up towards Kosuke, forcing Akira's arm around hers. "There you are. I was wondering when you would get here."
"I apologize for being late," Sanami said in a tone so sweet Akira knew she was faking it. "I lost track of the time for a bit."
"Sanami-chan!" Makamura's wife cooed over the girl. "You're looking as beautiful as ever! I wish I had a daughter like you."
'No you don't…' Akira thought to himself, narrowing his eyes at Sanami.
"How's your father, Sanami?" Makamura-san asked. Sanami smiled.
"Daddy is currently away in England," she informed them. "I'm here in his stead. He loved your presentation, by the way. Couldn't stop talking about it at meal times."
"And who's this young man?" Makamura's wife asked, looking at Akira. "He looks familiar. Is he one of your many suitors?"
"No," Sanami laughed. "You flatter me, Makamura-san. This is a friend from my school. Akira Toya."
"Akira Toya? The Go prodigy?" Makamura-san asked. "A befitting husband for someone like you, Sanami-chan!"
"But I still want to introduce you to my son," Makamura's wife added, elbowing her husband in the ribs. "He's only a few years older then you."
"If he's anything like his charming father, then it would be my pleasure," Sanami smiled at the two and they laughed.
"What a wonderful young lady you are, Sanami-chan," Makamura's wife laughed daintily. "Well, we should be going. Yuusuke here still has to talk to a few friends of ours."
"Shibahime-kun, Sanami-chan, goodbye," Makamura-san nodded. "And to you too, Toya-kun. A pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine, sir," Akira said, bowing. The two walked off, and Kosuke and Sanami gave twin sighs.
"Thank God you came Sanami," Kosuke sighed. "Those people were driving me crazy."
Akira was surprised. Kosuke was being rather friendly with Sanami. When he had been chastising her before, he had seemed strict and unfriendly. However, Sanami and he now seemed like friends.
"I don't blame you," Sanami said, sticking out her tongue. "Trying to set you up again, I see?"
"Same with you," Kosuke sighed, drinking from his glass.
"Did your father really like his presentation?" Akira asked the two.
"Hated it," said Sanami.
"He's going to reject it tomorrow," informed Kosuke.
"Huh?" Akira looked at them, confused. "Then why did you compliment him on it?"
"It's always a good thing to keep the clients happy," Kosuke remarked. "That way, we can turn him down gracefully, and take advantage of his business in the future. It's a cardinal rule, you see."
"So…he didn't talk about it at meal times?" Akira asked Sanami, and she narrowed her eyes.
"I haven't had a meal with my father since I was four," she told Akira, and he fell over. "Yeah, I'm used to making up crap like that."
"You were so polite before," Akira said, getting up from his spot on the floor. "I was getting hopeful."
"Sorry to burst your bubble!" Sanami grinned, winking. "Nope! You know the real me Akira! It PAINS me to be that prissy!"
"Shibahime-san! Sanami-chan!"
"Uh oh…"
"Here they come again."
Akira looked up to see yet another older looking business man with his beautiful wife walking towards them. Behind them was a girl who looked to be in twenties with short cut light brunette hair and black eyes. She was dressed in a plain black dress with no jewelry, as if not to draw attention to herself.
"Ahhh! Koyanagi-san!" Sanami smiled. "Pleased to see you again! Father told me to say how pleased he was with your development team!"
"Really?" Koyanagi-san asked, brushing his greasy graying hair back. "Glad to hear it! I've got the best development team in the business, you know."
"Unfortunately, he's making cut backs soon. He said that he really hopes he doesn't have to let your workers go," Sanami frowned, looking very upset. "I'm really worried, Koyanagi-san!"
"Oh, you're so sweet, Sanami-chan," Koyangi-san smiled. "At least I know that your Father is pained about the cut backs he's making. It's good to find someone who cares about his employees."
"Who's this boy?" Koyangi's wife asked, looking at Akira. Akira was quick to introduce himself.
"Akira Toya, ma'am. Pleased to make your acquaintance," he bowed and the woman gasped.
"You're the famous youth polo player aren't you?"
Akira facefaulted. This woman was either not well read on games in Japan, or was just stupid. "Th-that's Go ma'am," he corrected politely.
"Of course!" the woman nodded, smiling.
"And…umm…who are you?" Akira asked the girl behind them, and she blushed.
"Oh, this is Etsuko Teshima, my secretary," Koyanagi-san said absentmindedly. "She's of no consequence, I assure you."
'How rude…' Akira thought to himself, but Sanami and Kosuke said nothing. In fact, Kosuke hadn't said anything for the duration of the conversation. His eyes were locked on Koyanagi-san.
"And how's that new line you're coming out with doing?" Kosuke finally spoke.
"Umm…" Koyangi-san frowned. "I-I haven't come out with a line recently. Our processors are still enjoying the fruit of the profits we've received from the release last quarter."
'How odd…' Akira thought, frowning. He glanced at Koyangi-san, then his wife, and then at Teshima-san. Akira frowned as he saw a red blush come over Teshima's face.
"Matsu'ura-san is very excited about the new additions to your product team," Kosuke told him. Akira glanced again at Teshima-san to see her blush redden even more.
"I haven't made any new additions…are you feeling all right Shibahime-kun?"
"Well, I must be going," Kosuke finally said, smiling. "It's almost half past the hour, and I have to be somewhere in five minutes."
"Where?" Koyanagi-san asked, already very confused.
"Meeting another business partner," Kosuke said. "Good day, Koyanagi-san."
"Shibahime!" Koyanagi-san called after Kosuke just as he reached the door of the building. "Have I introduced you to my daughter? She currently single, you know. Very pretty. Was selected as a Cherry Blossom Princess at the last festival, you know. She's only a few years younger then you."
"Ahh, Arisa-san?" Kosuke asked, turning his head around. "If she's anything like your lovely wife, I'd love to meet her."
Kosuke turned back around and then walked slowly up the stairs through the door of the building, leaving Sanami, Akira, and Teshima-san alone with the Koyanagis. "Sanami-san, how are your violin lessons?"
"Oh just lovely," Sanami smiled. Akira looked at Sanami with a suspicious look. He remembered an exchange he had with her at school one day during morning break.
"What's that weird music?" Sanami asked.
"It's the band. They practice in the morning, you know," Akira told her.
"I hate music," Sanami frowned.
"You don't play an instrument?" Akira asked her. "I suppose that's not so uncommon, but I've seen a Grand Piano in your house."
"Nah," Sanami said, shaking her head. "It takes too much time. I play the Kazoo though. I'm also not too bad on the soup cans."
Sanami was obviously lying about her "violin lessons". Akira sighed to himself. "Something wrong Akira?" Sanami asked, glowering at him, as if realizing what he was thinking.
"N-nothing…" he said, trying to force a smile. "Just a little hot."
"Umm…sir?" Teshima-san piped up, and Akira saw that her voice was timid and small. "I-I'm hot myself. I was wondering if I could go to the restroom to freshen up and cool off a bit."
"All right," said Koyanagi-san gruffly. "But don't be more then twenty minutes, you got that?"
"Y-yes sir," Teshima nodded, bowing. She quickly ran up the steps and through the door. Akira looked out past her, a suspicious look in her eye.
"Sanami! I just remembered," said Akira, smiling at her and taking her arm. "Don't you have to meet your father's friend inside in a few minutes?"
"Huh?" Sanami asked, looking at Akira.
"Silly, you've forgotten," Akira laughed. "Remember? You've got to meet someone inside."
Sanami stared at Akira for a second, and then laughed. "Of course! How could I have forgotten? Silly me! I'm sorry Koyanagi-san, but I must be going," she told him, bowing to both him and his wife. "My father directly requested I speak to a friend of his, and he should be leaving soon. I'll find you later and we can finish our chat!"
"That sounds lovely Sanami-chan," Koyanagi-san smiled. "We'll see you later." With that, the couple walked off, and Sanami turned to Akira as he led her towards the door of the building.
"Hey Akira, what's up?"
"We need to follow Teshima-san," he told her. "Something's going on between her and Kosuke."
"What do you mean?" Sanami asked.
"I think Teshima and Kosuke may be passing information to one another," he told her. "About your father's business and Koyanagi's. Did you notice how Kosuke was acting strange before?"
"Uhh…I guess."
"I think he was speaking in some sort of code," Akira informed her warily. "Telling her when and where to meet him."
"Passing info? Kosuke?" Sanami asked. "No way! He's totally loyal to Daddy!"
"I wouldn't be so sure," Akira told her. "There she is!" he pointed to Teshima, who was currently walking towards the back of the room. "Let's follow her…"
The two slunk through the crowd, avoiding detection and following Teshima to her destination. Teshima looked nervous and kept looking from side to side. Finally, she ducked through a hallway and turned a corner.
Akira and Sanami followed. "We've made it," he whispered to Sanami. "Her footsteps have stopped. The hallway's dark," he observed. True, almost all the lights in the dim hallway were off. It was obvious that no one went into this hallway during the party. "Let's look in." Sanami nodded to her companion, and the two peered around the corner to see none other then Kosuke and Teshima.
Kissing.
"Oh my God!" Akira almost cried out, but lowered his voice to a rasp in Sanami's ear. It was true, Kosuke and Teshima were lip locked and embracing one another. Kosuke was holding Teshima's waist, and Akira gulped as he saw his hand up her dress. Teshima's hands were ravaging through Kosuke's usual pristine hair. His glasses were fogging up, so, when the couple broke their kiss, he took the glasses off and put them on a nearby table. He threw himself at Teshima again and Akira grabbed Sanami and threw both of them around the corner.
"Way to go Kosuke!" Sanami whispered, cheering to herself. "I knew he wasn't gay all along! Passing info…" Sanami giggled. "Looks like info's not all they're passing, if you know what I mean…"
"Sanami, let's leave! This is embarrassing!" Akira rasped.
"Wait! We're getting to the best part!" Sanami insisted, spinning her head around as the couple broke. Kosuke lowered his hand from Teshima's dress and she broke apart from him and turned around, crying. "Woah…she's sad. Maybe they're breaking up."
"Etsuko…" Kosuke murmured. "What's wrong?"
"I-I can't do this anymore, Kosuke," she said, choking through her tears.
"It won't be like this for long," Kosuke assured her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I promise. I just need to get a few things together."
"I'm so worried!" Teshima cried. "What if someone…what if Koyanagi-san finds out?"
"Forget about him…" Kosuke told her, breathing into her ear. "You're going to quit soon, anyway, right?"
"A secret relationship!" Sanami told Akira. "Like in all the movies! This is getting juicy!"
"Kosuke…you're the personal assistant of one of the most major business men in Japan," Teshima told him, turning around to face her lover, still wrapped in his arms. "I'm just a simple secretary."
"Oh! She's doubting her worth!" Sanami told Akira. "It's a total Prince falls for Peasant story! I love it!"
"I've told you before…" Kosuke told her. "I love you. You're the most special person in the world to me. I'd drop my job, Matsu'ura-san, everything, for you."
"I'm…I'm not even pretty…" she said, crying again. "Or elegant like the others girls here."
"I think she's pretty," Sanami said to Akira. "Don't you?"
"Yes…" Akira nodded, then stopped himself. "Sanami! We should go! Eavesdropping is tacky!"
"You're beautiful," Kosuke told her warmly, pressing his lips to hers again. They broke and Teshima put her head on Kosuke's shoulder.
"W-What about…Arisa-san? The Cherry Blossom Princess…?"
"What about her?" Kosuke asked, looking into Teshima's eyes and tilted her chin up to face him. "I've got my Princess right here."
"That's so ROMANTIC!" Sanami whispered, hugging Akira's neck and crying. Akira found himself suffocating under Sanami's grip.
"Sanami! L-let go!"
"Kosuke…" Teshima murmured as they broke from their latest kiss. "Kosuke…why…why won't you do what I ask and break up with me?" she was crying again.
"Why don't you break up with me?" he asked her softly.
"B-Because I love you!" she told him, throwing her arms around his neck. "You know that!"
"Etsuko…" Kosuke murmured, grasping her in his arms.
"But it just won't work between us…" she told him. "It just can't. Koyanagi-san would get angry if he found out that we were seeing one another. It might affect your work and your future. I couldn't do that to you…"
"Etsuko…what are you saying?" Kosuke asked, pulling her back from him and looking alarmed.
"I can't see you anymore…" she told him, blinking back tears. Kosuke's eyes widened, and Sanami gasped. "I can't see you…knowing that I'm putting your future in jeopardy with my selfish wishes to be with you."
"Etsuko, no!" Kosuke grabbed her arms forcefully. "You're making a mistake!"
"Let me go, Kosuke…" Teshima's voice was cold and firm. Kosuke looked hurt, scared, and desperate. "I have to go…Koyanagi-san is waiting for me." She broke away from Kosuke, who still had his arms in mid-air. "Do me a favor…and go to dinner with Arisa-san. She's…beautiful, you know."
With that, Teshima started to walk straight towards Sanami and Akira. They both gulped and Sanami pointed to the broom closet next to them. She quietly opened the door and they jumped in, shutting the door behind them. Teshima left the room, tears in her eyes.
"E-Etsu…Etsuko…" Kosuke sighed, and dropped his hands and his head. He looked as if he was going to cry.
"Kosuke!"
Kosuke's head snapped up as he saw none other then Sanami and Akira rounding the corner. Akira looked very red as Sanami dragged him along. "Sa-Sanami!" Kosuke gasped. "How long were you listening?"
"Almost the whole time," Sanami told him. "Why in the world is Etsuko breaking up with you? She seems to really be in love with you!"
"Sanami…it's complicated…" Kosuke sighed, picking up his glasses and putting them on. "Koyanagi-san and your father are business partners. Koyanagi-san wants me to marry his daughter to gain connections into the business world. If he found out that I was in love with his secretary…he might take it out on your father, and on me. Demand my dismissal, for instance, as well as Etsuko's."
"But that's got nothing to do with true love!" Sanami interjected, and Kosuke sighed. "You're in love with Etsuko! You should get together with her! Like in all the mangas and stuff!"
"I wish there was a way…" Kosuke shook his head. "But Etsuko is determined. I wish I could just show her how much she means to me."
"She's your whole world, isn't she?" asked Sanami. "Man Kosuke! I never knew you could be so romantic!"
"In fact…" Kosuke frowned, then dug into his pocket. Sanami and Akira gasped as he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a sparkling diamond engagement ring. "I…I was going to propose today. I've finally got it all set up. I've got an apartment…big enough for two," Kosuke narrowed his eyes, as if it pained him to say it. He closed the box. "I-I guess I should just put this away."
"No way!" Sanami shook her head. "You're giving that ring to Etsuko! Today!"
"Sanami, it's impossible," said Akira. "Teshima-san has completely decided on not accepting Kosuke."
"Toya-kun is right," Kosuke sighed. "She'd never say yes."
"You're wrong!" Sanami shook her head. "Once she sees that ring, she'll see how important she is to you! All you need is the right mood!"
"And how are we going to get that, Sanami?" Akira asked her, narrowing his eyes. "Don't tell me that you're actually thinking of another crazy scheme?"
"Of course!" Sanami winked. "I've got the perfect plan! And you're going to help me!"
"I thought this would happen…"
"Teshima-san!" Sanami called to the brunette secretary about a half an hour later. She was drinking from a wine glass, looking extremely depressed.
"Sa-Sanami-san?"
"Teshima-san, I'm so glad I found you!" Sanami said, panting hard. "There's an urgent message from Koyanagi-san! He wants you to meet him at the curb right away!"
"The curb?" she asked, widening her eyes. "What for?"
"He said it was really important," Sanami told her. "I'd go if I were you."
"O-of course," Teshima nodded. "I'll be right there!" With that, she turned her back and walked off quickly. Sanami smiled and brought something out from behind her back that looked like a ruffled white dress.
"It's show time."
Teshima ran down the stairs of the building and headed for the nearest curb. When she arrived, her employer was nowhere in sight. "Ko-Koyanagi-san?"
"Oh! I'm so glad someone's come!"
Teshima turned her head to see none other then a young woman wearing a white frilly dress, high heels, a wide brimmed white hat, and a white mask covering her eyes. She held a parasol in her dainty gloved hands and her white blonde hair was gathered into a bun. "Huh?" Teshima asked, her eyes wide. "Wh-who are you?"
"My name is Clarabelle," the girl said, smiling. "I'm so glad someone can finally see me."
"See you…?" Teshima asked Clarabelle. "What in the world do you mean?"
"I'm a ghost you see," Clarabelle explained. "A spirit, really. I need someone to help me. I've been here since 1865."
"Almost…150 years?" Teshima asked, raising her eyebrows. "Y-Y-You're a ghost?"
"I'm not going to hurt you!" Clarabelle assured her. "I'm just looking for something. Can you please take me there? If I go there…then I go to heaven."
"Wh-where do you need to go?" Teshima asked. "My father always said that spirits were among us…I never thought I'd actually meet one. Why are you wearing a mask?"
"A-All spirits wear masks!" Clarabelle stumbled. "O-Of course! Anyway, I need to find Shumashu Tunnel."
"That's near here!" Teshima told her. "Only about twenty by car!"
"Can you take me there?" Clarabelle asked, then caught herself. "Uhhh! I mean, what's a car?"
"It's a vehicle that will get you there faster then any horse and carriage," Teshima told her. "Come along."
Teshima ushered Clarabelle towards the front of the street into a black car, and Clarabelle sat next to her, fastening her seatbelt with little problems. "I'll get you to Shumashu Tunnel, I promise."
"Thank you," Clarabelle smiled at Teshima as the car started to drive off. "I'm sorry if I'm dragging you from something. But no one has seen me for over 150 years."
"Why can't many people see you?" Teshima asked.
"I only appear to those who are in danger of losing their happiness," Clarabelle smiled at Teshima, and her eyes widened. "You wouldn't happen to be in a situation like that, would you?"
Teshima looked at the road, and then shook her head. "Even…even if I am…my happiness isn't as important to me as what I'm saving."
Clarabelle frowned. "Do you know…why I'm going to Shumashu Tunnel?"
"No…" Teshima shook her head as the car cruised along. "I-I don't."
"You see…I was raised in Japan my whole life," Clarabelle told her. "I was the daughter of a wealthy ranch owner. When I was seventeen years old, I fell deeply in love with a man."
"Y-you did?" Teshima asked, furrowing her eyebrows in concern.
"Yes. His name was Rex…" Clarabelle said dreamily. "We were inseparably, and I was so in love. But…"
"But?"
"We had to keep our relationship a secret," Clarabelle told her. "Our families were rivals, and I knew that it would only cause problems for Rex if we were found out."
"So…you had to meet in secret…" Teshima murmured.
"You sound familiar with the situation," Clarabelle said hastily, and Teshima blushed.
"N-No… Not really. Continue. What happened after that?"
"Soon, I knew that our relationship was a burden to Rex," Clarabelle explained. "I loved him so much that I thought leaving him was the only way to make him truly happy."
"So you left him…?" Teshima asked, her eyes soft.
"Yes," Clarabelle nodded. "The next day…I got news that Rex was dead."
"Dead?" Teshima asked, her eyes wide. "H-How did he die?"
"He threw himself under a train in Shumashu Tunnel," she told Teshima quietly. "He committed suicide out of despair. I remember going to the Tunnel to pay my last respects."
"How horrible…" Teshimura murmured.
"I died only a few weeks later of a broken heart…" Clarabelle told her. "Rex was the only man I ever loved."
"Why would you want to go back to the place where your lover committed suicide?" Teshima asked. "It seems so sad."
"They say…that if you propose marriage to someone in Shumashu Tunnel, you'll be together forever," Clarabelle said, smiling. "That's why I need to go. Perhaps…Rex's spirit will still be there, and we can finally rest together and be together forever."
"We're here!" Teshima announced, surprised herself as they came upon the train tracks. The tunnel could be seen in the distance. "There are no trains running this route today. Let's go! We need to find Rex."
It had been around ten minutes to the tunnel by walking, but Clarabelle remained standing straight, her parasol in hand. Finally, they reached the mouth of the dark tunnel, and Clarabelle put out her arm to stop Teshima. "I'll go in first. I need to find Rex."
Clarabelle walked into the tunnel, and slowly, Teshima followed. She gasped as she saw a young man standing in the tunnel, wearing a black suit with a bow tie and a black cowboy hat. He also wore a black mask and his hair was black and cut to just above his shoulders. When Clarabelle saw him, she gasped and ran to the man, throwing her arms around him. "Rex! Oh Rex, you're here! I've been waiting for this day for so long!"
"I have too, Clarabelle," Rex said, smiling at her. He kneeled, and Teshima gasped as he pulled out a sparkling ring. "Will you marry me Clarabelle?"
"Of course!" Clarabelle cried, grabbing Rex's neck and embracing him. "Oh Rex! Let's never let anything come between us again! I'm so sorry that I ever doubted our love!"
"Is this the young woman that brought you here?" Rex asked, nodding towards Teshima. Clarabelle nodded and Rex turned to her. "Don't make the same mistake we did. If you ever find your true love, remember that your life is a precious thing. You have to spend it with the right person. You're only hurting yourself and your love by letting your doubt get in the way."
Teshima's eyes widened, and tears started to fill them. "Yes," she nodded. "Yes, I understand."
"Good…" Rex smiled and then grabbed Clarabelle's hand. "We'll be going now."
With that, Rex and Clarabelle walked into the tunnel, the blackness of the interior shadowing them from view. Teshima sighed contentedly and blinked back her tears. "I-I have to get back! Tell Kosuke about what's happened!"
"Etsuko!"
Teshima looked up, her eyes wide. Coming from the end of the tunnel was none other then Kosuke, his hair still a mess, his glasses still foggy. He was running towards her, and she ran towards him. They met and embraced one another. "Kosuke! Oh Kosuke!"
"Etsuko…"
"Kosuke…I'm so sorry for what I said…" Etsuko cried. "Clarabelle and Rex showed me how wrong I really was."
"N-no kidding…" Kosuke murmured under his breath. "I mean…Rex led me here too. Etsuko…"
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you!" Etsuko cried into Kosuke's chest, embracing him fiercely. "Oh Kosuke…even if our relationship is a burden, I know that we'll make it through because we love each other!"
"Of course," Kosuke murmured, stroking Etsuko's hair, smiling warmly. "Etsuko…?"
"Y-yes?" Etsuko asked, looking up. Her eyes widened and Kosuke fell to his knee and pulled out the velvet box from his back pocket. He held it up to her and opened it to reveal the engagement ring. "Kosuke!"
"Etsuko Teshima…" Kosuke breathed. "Will you…will you grant me the happiness of a lifetime and consent to be my wife?"
Etsuko began to cry buckets of tears and she nodded weakly. "Of course I will…"
Kosuke rose to his feet and kissed Etsuko passionately right there in the tunnel. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, tears still running down her cheeks. It truly was a happy ending for the two of them.
Meanwhile…
"I knew our plan would work!" Sanami grinned, taking off her mask and hat. She undid her bun and shook her hair out.
"This is ridiculous…" Akira sighed, taking off his hat and mask. "Where did you get these costumes on such short notice?"
"I had the driver go out and buy them from the costume place nearby," Sanami smiled. "I got the idea from that film I saw last month. Gone with the Wind, I think."
"Gone with the Wind?" Akira asked warily. "Sanami…that was poor model."
"What for?" Sanami frowned. "It took place during the mid 1800's, right? My dress looks almost exactly like Scarlet's! And I got your name from Ret Butler! See? My researching is great!"
"Sanami! That's a foreign film! It takes place in America!"
"Huh?" Sanami asked, raising an eyebrow. "No kidding?"
"Something has been bothering me…" the two heard Teshima say. "Why were Rex and Clarabelle dressed like that when they were born in Japan?"
Sanami gulped and Akira sighed, shaking his head.
"And what about their names? They sounded foreign too."
Sanami facefaulted and Akira looked at her with an "I told you so" look.
"And most of all…" Teshima said, narrowing her eyes. "Shumashu Tunnel wasn't even built until 1984."
"ACK!" Sanami gasped.
"Sanami! You idiot! How could you make such a blatant mistake?" Akira snapped. "If you're going to come up with an elaborate plan like this, at least be accurate!"
"I'm sorry!" Sanami cried, running through the tunnel to meet up with the couple. Akira followed her, looking very red in the face. Sanami bowed to Teshima apologetically. "Sorry! I know we tricked you, but it was just to get you and Kosuke back together!"
"I do apologize…" Kosuke sighed. "Sanami insisted."
"I don't mind," Etsuko smiled, hugging Kosuke and closing her eyes serenely. "I don't mind at all…I'm back with my beloved Kosuke. That's all that matters."
"Yeah…" Sanami smiled. "This is quite the happy ending!"
"What is the meaning of this Teshima?"
The group had arrived back at the party, and immediately everyone was drawn to the ruffled looking Kosuke and Etsuko holding hands. A single glance at Etsuko's left ring finger was enough to tell the story. Koyanagi-san was the first to object. "Are you saying that you're engaged to Shibahime-kun?"
"Yes," Etsuko smiled at Kosuke, who smiled back. "I'm going to be Etsuko Shibahime soon. Kosuke and I have been seeing each other for a while."
"Th-this is an outrage!" Koyanagi exclaimed, becoming very red in the face. "Don't expect to get away with your job, Teshima!"
"Actually sir, I came to quit," Etsuko snapped, smiling triumphantly at her former employer. "I'm going to become a teacher after Kosuke and I get married. I never liked this work anyway."
"Shibahime!" Koyanagi, knowing he had lost the battle with Teshima, rounded on Kosuke. "I'll talk to Matsu'ura-san about this! Don't expect that there won't be repercussions for these actions!"
"I know the consequences for my actions, sir," Kosuke said simply. "And I'm willing to accept them. I'm also willing to accept the consequences for the following…" he cleared his throat. "I've been seeing Etsuko behind your back for a long time. You're a complete idiot not to have realized it. Matsu'ura-san hates your development team and is getting rid of it as soon as possible. Also, your wife is an old gossip and really should lay off the five layers of eyeshadow."
"I've never been so insulted in my life!" Koyanagi exclaimed, a vein bulging in his head. "I'll have your head for this, Shibahime!"
"I'm sorry sir," Kosuke smiled at Etsuko. "But I'm afraid my head and the rest of my body all belong to Etsuko now."
The two kissed, and many people in the back cheered, making Koyanagi and his wife even angrier. Sanami and Akira cheered as well, that is Sanami jumped up and down and Akira clapped.
"So glad it turned out this way!" Sanami sighed to herself. "They're so perfect together, don't you think?"
"Yes," Akira nodded. "Sanami…can we take off these costumes now? I feel ridiculous."
"Whatever," Sanami grinned, then looked down at her hand. "Hey…" she grinned at Akira and held up her hand. "You proposed to me, remember? And in Shumashu Tunnel! You know what they say! If you propose marriage to someone in Shumashu Tunnel, you'll be together forever!"
"That ring is made of plastic!" Akira snapped, blushing crimson. "And I didn't propose to you!"
"Ha ha! The ring says different!" Sanami grinned, running up the stairs. "Uh oh! You've got a runaway bride on your hands, Akira! I'd catch me before I start shouting it out!"
"SANAMI!" Akira shouted. "You come back here right now!"
Akira chased after Sanami, who held up the trail of her dress as she ran away. Akira gritted his teeth, a blush on his face, and ran as fast as he could. "Sanami! Get back here now!"
"I love this apartment Kosuke…it must have cost a lot."
"I love you more," Kosuke murmured, kissing his fiancee's head as the two lay in bed, embracing one another. Suddenly, the phone rang and Etsuko pouted. Kosuke rolled his eyes and got up from bed, grabbing his robe and throwing it on his shoulders.
"Who would be calling this late…?" Etsuko asked, looking at the clock that read "23:37".
"It's probably Matsu'ura-san from overseas," he told her. "I'll be quick." He gave her a quick kiss and walked over to the phone. He picked it up. "Hello?"
"Kosuke. I just received a rather angry phone message from Koyanagi. Says that you're now engaged to his secretary and he wants you fired."
"Yes sir."
"You got engaged? And you didn't even call me? Who's the lucky girl?"
"Etsuko Teshima," he told him, smiling. "But I'm a little surprised, sir. You're not angry?"
"Of course not," Gosho remarked over the phone, his voice still rough. "Getting engaged is nothing to be upset over."
"Did the message say anything else?"
"Oh yes…that you directly insulted him in public."
There was a silence.
"Good show. I always hated that idiot. Now he knows his place."
"I'm happy to hear you say that sir," Kosuke smiled.
"Anyway, I'll let you get back to your fiancée. You two are probably together, am I right?"
"Yes," Kosuke smiled, looking over at Etsuko. "Sir…when are you returning from England?"
"Next Sunday," he told Kosuke. "But I have another flight Monday afternoon for New York. I'll only be gone for a few days."
"Sir…" Kosuke murmured. "Can't you postpone the flight to New York?"
"It's an important matter of business, Kosuke. Why do you want me to postpone?"
"It's Sanami… Sir, she hasn't seen you in nearly a month."
"Sanami's an independent girl," Gosho said. "She's fine, isn't she?"
"She's the reason I'm engaged right now," Kosuke said firmly. "Sir, because of what Sanami did for me, I think I need to say this for her. She needs you, Sir. You've been away too long."
There was a silence. "You're overstepping your boundaries Kosuke. Get back to your fiancée before I decide to really fire you."
Kosuke knew that Gosho as joking, but he sighed, and nodded. "Yes sir. I'll see you next Sunday Matsu'ura-san."
"Goodbye Kosuke."
"Goodbye Matsu'ura-san." With that, Kosuke hung up the phone, an image of Sanami and Akira flashing through his find. "Sanami…I did my best."
The End of that chapter! Such a long one! I hope you all enjoyed it! This one made me crack up a little bit! Please review!
Until then,
Ciao for now!