Disclaimer: Don't own anything... sob sob...
Feely: Hey glad to know someone who understands my national language! Cool! Yeah I understand what you wrote. I guess Indo isn't much different from BM except when its vocal. I still can't understand most of my Indonesian friends when they speak :) Saya tak beberapa baik dalam tulis bahasa melayu atau cakap pun kerana sudah lama tak guna. Saya jangka ada tujuh tahun saya tak tulis melayu dan cakap pun kadang kadang sahaja. Ini adalah kerana apabila sudah habis tingkatan 5 saya pergi belajar di kolej dan uni, semua dalam bahasa inggeris. Yalah, Harry Potter ada terkejutan yang hebat apabila saya habis cerita itu. Saya pun tak jangka cerita akan habis macam itu! Sekarang mesti tunggu untuk buku ketujuh... ia semakin hebat cerita telah melanjut... OK... it took me sometime to write that :P Hope you understand my broken bahasa melayu! LOL
Xiar: I'm from Kuala Lumpur... and don't worry you will have a great surprise at Akari's past when the chapter comes. I'm trying to make it an interesting chapter...
Kari55: Yeah I am sad for Yuuki too... well when you don't like someone I guess no matter what he or she does... it just wouldn't work does it?
Coiling Death: LOL she is stubborn isn't she, but that is what makes the story ;) She just didn't want to admit it...
Jamfase: Hikaru will come in eventually... I am trying to think of a humorous way too... just couldn't come into my head. But we will see. Yeah I couldn't think Yuuki as Yuuki too... in the anime it is always Mitani but his sister is in the story too... n I don't really know her name! I'll try my best to update asap.I try not to let Harry Potter get in the way of updating ;p
Kickkid3: Hey thanks for reading and reviewing! Yeah I feel bad for Yuuki too!
Hope everyone enjoy this chapter and thanks a bunch for all the reviews!
Chapter 8
Christmas was over and Akari was on a ladder taking down the decorations she had put up the ceiling of her café. It was very early in the morning when there weren't customers around yet. Mitani was at the counter doing some accounting and other kitchen employers were preparing the kitchen and the groceries. The bell at the door rang indicating someone entering the shop. Akari climbed down a few steps and jumped off the ladder to greet the person who came in.
"Ohayo gosaimasu!"
"Yo, Akari…."
Akari stared when she saw Yuuki standing there before her. His hands shove deep into the pockets of his pants looking at her rather awkwardly. Taking a deep breath Akari gave him a weak smile.
"Can I talk to you?" Yuuki asked.
"Sure," Akari replied and turned to Yuuki's sister. "I'll be just outside."
"No problem," Mitani called back.
They left the café and took a walk along the busy sidewalk. There was an uncomfortable silence since Yuuki had a difficult time opening his mouth and Akari was slightly nervous with the memory of what happened between them still vivid in her mind.
"Ano, Akari…." Yuuki began softly stopping at mid stride. "I am really sorry for yelling and hurting you during Christmas…"
"Forget about it…."
"I can't," Yuuki exclaimed heatedly which made Akari jumped slightly. "I just can't forget about it. I know I hurt you. Tsuda told me the bruises you got on your arms…." (Tsuda is Kuniko's family name if anyone forgot. It was mentioned in Chapter 5)
"Yuuki, really, just forget about it!" Akari smiled at him softly. "I'm glad that we are still friends even after what had happened. I thought you didn't want to see me again after that! I am really glad you came today!"
"How can I stop seeing you Akari…?" Yuuki smiled wearily. "Even you can't accept my feelings for you. I will be here for you always…."
"Yuuki, don't you think you should go on in life?" Akari asked. "Stop waiting for me…."
"You always said you moved on in life but I think you didn't…." Yuuki replied rather impatiently. "If you did you would have learn to accept others again."
Akari for once couldn't retort to that.
"But I think I am pretty happy for once." Yuuki's tone of changed again rather softly. "It looks like you are starting to respond to a certain someone. Even I couldn't do it but that person is pretty extraordinary to be able to touch your heart."
"What are you talking about?" Akari frowned slightly at his statement. "I am not responding to anyone!"
"That guy," Yuuki turned away from Akari with a pain look on his face. "Touya Akira…."
"That is a lie!" Akari flared out. "I don't have any feelings for him! He is just a friend!"
"Really…." Yuuki turned back to Akari with a small sad smile on his face. "Your reaction is the best evidence I have."
"Wha…."
"Akari I know you for so long," Yuuki shook his head slightly cutting her off. "Whenever you deny something that is true, you get all worked up like you are right now!"
That shut Akari up completely.
"Think about it, why did you go all the way out to make him happy? Is he really just a friend?"
With that last statement Yuuki walked away leaving Akari in the middle of the crowded street rather speechless and deep in thought. Still as stubborn as steel Akari denied what Yuuki said was true as she stormed back to her café rather irately.
"Whao…." Mitani looked up when Akari burst into the café like a whirlwind. "You and Yuuki quarreled again?"
"He will have a piece of my mind soon…" That was what Akari could say furiously. "However, it will be until I can find a good retort, he will hear it from me!"
Mitani couldn't help herself but laughed before she retreated to the kitchens.
Akari was still furious. How dare he twist and turned around in his conversation. How dare he confuse her thoughts? Even he was her best friend he had no rights to play with her thoughts like this. She had no feelings for Touya and that was final! Whatever she had done for him was truly cause of friendship and nothing else!
The phone rang, bringing Akari out of a daze repeating that Touya was only a friend and nothing else in her head. Looking rather flustered she picked up the phone.
"Moshi moshi, Eternal Snow Café," Akari spoke in a cheerful voice. You must wonder how she can change her mood so suddenly. "How may I help you?"
"Akari is okasan here…."
"Okasan?" Akari blinked. "What's up?"
"Well, I have two tickets to go to this charity ball on New Year's Eve…." Her mother explained. "But otosan and I will be going off on a holiday so we wouldn't be able to attend the function. I was thinking maybe you can go with Yuuki…"
Akari sighed deeply inwardly.
"I am busy on New Year's Eve…."
"You already had plans with Yuuki?"
"No it's not that… I…."
"Good then, I will call Yuuki and tell him to come collect the tickets!"
"NO!" Akari shouted rather too quickly but calm down immediately. "I mean, don't trouble him with small things like this! I'll drop by this evening to get the tickets! I will tell Yuuki myself!"
"Ok then, I'll see you tonight!"
"Right!"
Akari hang up and sighed loudly and agitatedly.
Why does it always had to come to down to this kind of things? She moaned to herself pathetically burying her head in her arms crossed on the counter.
It was the usual in the Go salon, the place echoed with 'pachi' clatters of Go stones hitting the wooden GO boards. Ichikawa was serving tea to guests and two regular and very common players at their usual seats looking like a quarrel going to erupt soon.
"Do you even consider before you place yours stones Shindou?" Touya asked in his familiar annoyance hint in his voice. "I would be able to capture your stones at the right side easily. I am sure you could see the opening you had left right here!"
"What are you talking about?" Shindou immediately came into defense. "I did consider my defense. Do you think I will let you attack me that easily? Dream on Touya!"
"Look here, this opening will make it easy for me to capture more territories!"
"Right, if you do, I will be able to take over your side!"
"You have no chance to turn the game around.
"I do!"
"You do not!"
"Hey guys!" Ichikawa came up with cups of tea for them. "It's been like almost 10 years and you both still quarrel like school teens over a simple game!"
Both young men lean back on their seats looking rather irritably. Ichikawa could only smile at them as she placed the cups of tea next to them on the table. They still looked liked school boys to her whenever this quarrel starts. However, Hikaru had stopped storming out the salon after their quarrel a long time ago but stayed to play another game until the place closes.
"By the way, I was asked to pass this invitation to you." Ichikawa said handing an envelope to Touya. "It's from Touya-sensei."
"Otosan?" Touya looked up at Ichikawa surprised, his frustration over Shindou vanished. "He is back from his vacation?"
"Well, yes but he is staying in the country house away from the city with Akiko-san." Ichikawa said still holding onto the envelope. "Touya-sensei didn't want to attend functions anymore. He said he is too old for this kind of celebration and prefer to have a quiet lifestyle with Akiko-san. You see, even after he had retired so long ago he is still very popular."
"You know, he could at least tell me he is back…." Touya whispered taking the envelope from her without bothering to open it or ask what kind of function it was.
"He was planning to call you tonight Akira-kun…." Ichikawa could hear a twinge of sadness in Touya's voice. "You were having a match when they came back yesterday so they didn't want to bother you. Touya-sensei thinks great importance of your matches! He is still waiting for you to get the next Meijin title like he did."
Touya took a deep breath and turned back to Shindou who sat rather quietly watching his rival's reaction. Their irritation for each other had vanished and they were cleaning the board to start on a new game again. There was like an understanding bond they share and that moment Hikaru knew better than to open his mouth further but to play another game.
"Let's play…." Shindou said shortly knowing that his rival did not want to talk about anything else right now or even know what kind of function he had to attend.
"Yeah…."
Akari down the wine quickly and looked around the ballroom rather impatiently. She had decided to come to the charity ball on New Year's Eve after all but threw the other ticket away. She looked up at a grandfather clock not far at the corner of the ballroom which showed her eight forty six. She had only been there for forty six minutes and it felt like hours. She sighed and took another glass of wine when a waiter walked by her and put her empty wine glass on the tray before he walked off, she was waiting until it was time to meet her friends for New Year's countdown at the pub in the city and it is a small place where she had her friends had their drinks sometimes. The meeting time with her friends was ten and she had almost another two hours to go. She tapped a finger on the wine glass watching some couples waltzing around the dance floor, lean back on a corner of a wall and her other arm wrapped across her small waist.
Touya looked absolutely breathtaking in a neat black suit and a satin dark silver tie instead of his violet suit and yellow black strip tie, brushes passed some attractive young ladies politely who was currently trying to get his attention but took no notice of them. He was currently looking for the person who organized this charity ball and a person who he knew very well. When that person came to view at the other end of the ballroom talking to two Pro Go players he had hardly talked to, he walked straight up to him not bothering that he may be interrupting an important conversation. He just had a feeling his childhood friend had planned this somehow.
"Ashiwara-san…." Touya called.
He was his friend even he was a kid. Even that their age were almost ten years apart, Ashiwara was still after all the youngest one compared to the rest of the pros in his study group with his father years back.
"Akira-kun," Ashiwara turned to him immediately. "Glad you can make it!"
"The invitation was for my father…."
"Yes of course, but I had a feeling he wouldn't want to come and it will ended up in your hands." Ashiwara grinned. "If I personally invite you, you'll never show up so I got Touya-sensei to do it."
"You know I never like functions like this, what are you having in mind right now?" Touya looked at his friend and ex-study group member intently. "If this is another of your pairing me up with someone, I'm leaving now!"
"Of course not, I just want you to have a good time!" Ashiwara smiled and took two glasses of wine when a waiter passed by and hand one to Touya. "Look there is Yusido Mariko…. If only I could introduce you…."
"Ashiwara-san!"
"Ok, I was joking!"
Touya shook his head so slightly that it was practically unnoticeable and sip the wine slowly from the wine glass looking around the ballroom. As he scanned the place he thought he saw a particularly familiar red head in a most captivating gown. He blinked; his eyes must be deceiving him. That was just too much! He was thinking about her practically all the time and now he was starting to have hallucination? But the Akari before him was more than just captivating in her outfit and make over. She was out most dazzling tonight!
Akari was dressed in a formal but simple red body hugging gown with two thin straps over her shoulders. The dressed flows down to her ankle, flares out giving it a flowing look in the edges and a pair of matching red stripped high heels. (I am sure everyone knows the old movie Pretty Woman, just imagine her wearing that red gown.)
Her long hair was tied up into an elegant French twist behind her head and she wore the lightest of makeup. Some pink shimmer eyeshadow on her eyes, eyeliner outlining her eyes gorgeously, mascara making her long lashes curled even more than usual and pink gloss on her lips. With the make up on, it brought out her divine features even more beautifully.
She took a deep breath and looked over to the clock impatiently again. How frustrating! Only ten minutes had passed the last time she saw it! She almost screamed but thought better than to do that and down another glass of wine.
"Drinking so fast will make you dizzy sooner than you want to Fujisaki-san."
Akari turned to the familiar voice that spoke to her and stared at Touya looking back at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. She didn't know why but her heart suddenly skipped several beats and now trying to get it back to its normal pace again.
"Touya-kun, what a pleasant surprise!" Akari smiled. "Why are you doing here?"
"If you forgot, I am a Professional Go player. I get invitations to promote charities like this."
"Right, so Hikaru is around?"
"No, he had other plans to do with Natsume-san and his son."
"Of course…." Akari nodded agreeing and took another glass of wine when the waiter came up to her to take her empty glass. "Thanks…." She said to the waiter.
"You shouldn't drink so fast…." Touya said after he saw how she downs her wine earlier not knowing that that wasn't her first glass. "You wouldn't want to pass out before New Year's countdown."
"Pass out?" Akari laughed softly. It was sort of nice soothing sound that kind of enthralls Touya. "I am just getting warm up Touya-kun."
What Touya did not know was how Akari and her friends drink in the pub whenever they needed time out and when they hang out. Her blood system had gotten immune to alcohol since Kaga thought her how to drink almost six years ago.
"So how did you end up here?" Touya asked looking around and found that she was practically alone. "Did you come here alone?"
"My parents love to do charity, got these tickets and decided that they didn't want to attend the ball but go for a holiday instead. So here I am in their place." Akari skipped the part on how her mother wanted to pair Yuuki and her for this ball.
"Their place?" Touya raised his eyebrows. "You sound like you had more than just one ticket. Is your partner somewhere in the ballroom?"
"I didn't know who to ask to come to the ball so I threw the other ticket away." Akari replied rather matter a factly. "It will be a waste to throw both so might as well use one…."
Touya smiled softly. He could see Akari would wish with all her heart to be anywhere but the ball. It was just exactly the same feeling he had right now. He turned back to the crowd and saw several young ladies who were trying to get his attention earlier throwing some dirty looks at Akari but quickly smile when they saw Touya watching them. He gave them a small nod before he looked back at Akari again.
Before he could open his mouth to talk to her, a young man, maybe around his age, walked up to her and bow politely. He could see Akari's eyebrows shot up with surprise. She was definitely not use to this kind of treatment.
"Would I have this dance?"
Touya frowned slightly not liking the idea and turned to see Akari's reaction. To his relieve she didn't seemed rather happy or eager about it too but she still smile politely at him and bowed slightly.
"I'm sorry but I…."
"She is dancing with me…." Touya cut her off. He had no idea what made him say such a bold thing but he was sure that he didn't want Akari to dance with this guy.
Akari turned to Touya with wide eye, her reaction clearly showed him; 'what was he trying to do?' He had no idea either. The young man took that as an answer and left.
"So? How about the dance?"
"Touya-kun I don't know how to waltz!" Akari hissed at him rather panicky.
"Don't worry, just follow my lead." Touya said, took her glass of wine from her hand and placed his and her glasses on the table nearby, slowly taking her hand in his gently and pulled her out the dance floor. "You will do fine…."
"I will make a fool out of myself!" Akari mumbled.
Touya held her right hand up in his gently and his other hand wrap around her waist. Slowly Akari placed her other free hand on his shoulder softly. (I don't waltz either… I think that is how it goes….)
Akari felt really nervous kept watching her feet. Truthfully she never dances with anyone in her life before and never she had the slightest thought would ever waltz now. Nevertheless, Touya looked really stunning and elegant leading her in around the ballroom.
"Fujisaki-san, you are doing fine." Touya said softly. "Try looking up instead of looking at your feet."
"Er…."
"You will be ok…." Touya pushed on, trying to convince her to look up.
Slowly Akari moved her head upwards to see Touya smiling slightly at her. She smiled wearily still remain very stiff in Touya's arms. Without meaning to Akari tread on one of his feet and he stumbled slightly trying not to wince but did close his eyes at the pain.
"Sorry Touya-kun!" Akari squeaked softly. "I told you I can't do this!"
"No, I am fine!" Touya quickly opened his eyes again, tightening the whole around her waist to prevent her from running off. "Don't worry, just continue like nothing happen…."
"I can't…." Akari's face flushed almost to the same shade as her gown. "Please, let's stop."
"Fujisaki-san, just one dance the song is about to end anyways."
Taking a deep breath Akari tried her best to relax and follow Touya's lead again. Touya could feel her calming down and his smile return, ever so gently and went unnoticed to Akari, he pulled her body closer to his when they waltz around the room. Akari was getting use to the steps though still slightly awkward was beginning to feel like she was whirled around like Belle in the Walt Disney fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, she had watched when she was young but Akari strongly believe that she was the beast and Touya was the beauty in this situation.
For almost a few full minutes their dance was flawless when they whirl around the ballroom marble dance floor. They were beginning to look like one when the move elegantly around others, their eyes locked together unable to look away. Akari could never imagine Touya could make her feel as light as a feather like she was skating on ice as he guide her around the ballroom dance floor. It was a pity the song had to end. Even so, Touya did not let her go, still held her in his arms, both of them stood motionlessly, their heads only inches away, their eyes still locked together with each other in a trance.
"I need to go to the washroom…." Akari whispered breaking the spell. She just had to break the spell. "Excuse me…."
Reluctantly, Touya let her go slowly and she walked away leaving him in the middle of the dance floor rather in a daze. He only came back to reality when he felt someone's arm around his shoulders and heard Ashiwara's voice next to him.
"Who is that charming young lady?"
"A friend, I met back at school." Touya replied walking away from the dance floor. "It's more like Shindou's friend."
"Shindou?" Ashiwara was still looking at the direction where Akari had gone. "You mean your rival Shindou Hikaru?"
"Yeah, that guy…."
"And to think I have to introduce you to girls!" Ashiwara laughed.
"Don't start Ashiwara-san…." Touya replied rather irritably.
"I won't, look my date is waiting for me. I should be going back to her now."
"Yeah…." Touya nod once glad that Ashiwara never press on any further or interrogate him more either.
He waited for Akari to return at the corner of the ballroom when someone tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to see who it may be. When he saw the person standing before him he nearly fumbled but luckily he didn't let his guard fall, just stare at her with mild surprise in his compose self.
"Yuii, why are you here…?"
"What a surprise, Akira" The lady clad in a stunningly and very revealing black gown ignored his question and smiled sweetly at him. "You are here alone?"
Touya didn't answer.
"Oh, still thinking about me is it." Yuii drawled in a seductive voice. "Well, I am with someone today. If you remember I think I introduce to you before. He is off getting us drinks."
"Yes, you introduce him to me on my birthday." Touya replied never hiding the sarcasm in his voice. "How can I forget?"
Yuii smile unaffected by his statement and at that moment her boyfriend choose to appear with two glass of wine in his hand. He passed one to Yuii.
"If I remember you are Touya-san right." Yuii's partner said.
Touya remained speechless. He hated encounters like this and it had to be the day before starting of a brand new year.
Akari checked her image carefully in the mirror before she left the washroom. She was still kind of baffled by the two minutes of lightheadedness she had when she dance with Touya earlier though the lightheadedness didn't last when she step back into the crowd. The first thing that caught her eye when she entered the ball room was Touya looking rather uptight talking to a very stunning and beautiful model figure lady in a black revealing gown not far from where she was standing. The lady had a hand link around another man's arm. She inclined her head slightly watching her as she walked over to them but stopped when she heard her conversation. There was something not right in that picture.
"So you are alone aren't you Akira," Yuii mocked. "Always spending your time with GO I am surprise you didn't bring the goban here to the ball as your partner."
"Is something a matter?" Touya was relief when he heard Akari's voice behind him. What stunned him most was he felt Akari's arm linked around his sending electric shocks up his whole body. "Are they your friends?"
"This is Sugisa Yuii and her partner…" Touya paused for a moment. Truthfully he couldn't remember the guy's name and he didn't want to be rude or anything.
"Kazusa Shinji, don't fret on it!" The guy said obligingly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Sugisa-san, Kazusa-san." Akari smiled and bowed slightly but still holding onto Touya's arm. "I am Fujisaki Akari."
"I don't believe this," Yuii smirked slightly. "You actually brought a lady not a goban." She stared at Akari with the smirked still on her face which Akari love to smack away. "So is Akira always stuck to the goban playing Go with his fellows than being with you Fujisaki-san? He is a hell boring guy and I bet you wouldn't last with him for more than a year!"
"For all do you respect Sugisa-san," Akari smile a rather charmingly but in a false scary one too back at her. "I don't find anything boring about Touya-kun and besides I will continue to encourage him in GO since he has the talent unlike someone who doesn't know anything about it but seemed to have so much to talk about it. Though it better stopped because nobody wants to be embarrassed saying anything wrong, wouldn't they? Please excuse us, we have other much better place to be."
With that she walked away with Touya leaving a rather stunned and furious Yuii behind them. Good, Akari smiled to herself triumphantly, she did wipe that smirk out her face. She laughed to herself silently. She was definitely not very fond of that bitch and she had a strong feeling that it was Touya's ex fiancée Hikaru had told her about.
Touya could still feel the gentle clutch around his arm when they walked into the lobby of the hotel building where the ball was held. He could feel Akari's shoulder shaking slightly and he turned to look at her. She had another hand over her mouth covering her mirth.
"You should have seen her face!" Akari said in a muffled voice because her hand was still over her mouth. "She was furious when we walk away!"
Touya was speechless because all he could think about was how close Akari was to him and her arm was still around his. Finally after Akari got a grip, she let him go and turned to look at him with a cheerful grin.
Touya smiled slightly. He knew he couldn't thank Akari enough for what she had done for him earlier. She practically defended him and pretended to be his date for the night even though she knew they met by coincidence or was it an arrangement of faith?
"You know I don't really like the ball that much." Akari said. "Do you want to stay on or we can go somewhere else where the real party is."
"You have another place to go?"
"Yes, but I have to change first!" Akari said looking at herself. "Will you wait a moment please? It won't be long."
"Change?" Touya couldn't understand what else Akari want to dress in after all she already looked really stunning in this gown. "You look beautiful in this dress Fujisaki-san."
"Oh," Akari blushed at his compliment. "Thank you but I don't need to be so formal to go to that place. So just wait a moment, I'll be right back!"
Touya watched Akari hurried into the lobby washroom and stood around the large classy lobby of the five stars hotel waiting for her like she told him to. When she reappeared again, she was dressed in a simple loose white long sleeve low U- neck knitted sweater that kept on falling off her right shoulder and a spaghetti strip bright pink tight fitting blouse beneath it, Touya could see that two thin strings of the bright pink blouse tied to the back of her neck and a pair of faded blue jeans. She had changed her stripped high heel shoes to a pair of brown with slight heels, high leather boots that reached up just below her knees the bottom of her jeans tugged into the boots.
She had let her hair down from the French twist and her long slightly curly hair lay around her shoulders in a stylish fashion. (Her hair is curly from the twist) Her beautiful red gown was packed away in a zip plastic gown bag and holding onto another small sports bag which he guessed she kept her clothes. She must have locked her bag in the guests lockers provided inside the lobby washroom.
"Come on I told my friends I will be there at ten…." Akari said going over to the exits to lead to the bus stand.
"Fujisaki-san I drove today," Touya smiled at her eagerness to leave the ball. "So I guess I will drive us there."
"That will be great!"
Touya took her bag and gown from her like a gentlemen retreating to the lobby entrance door where the bellboy bowed low when he and Akari came out, then helped him with the bag and gown. The jockey, who was standing nearby at his booth recognize Touya, quickly went to get his Mazda RX8 a beautiful sports interior car. (Can't imagine Touya driving a sports car but it make him seem cool doesn't it? I like this car very much, just couldn't help myself. Muahahahaha!)
Akari gave Touya the directions to the pub. It was a pub near the habour next to the sea. When they reached the place Touya stopped in front of it at the jockey parking, looking at the crowded pub rather wearily. He had never gone to a pub before and he was not dressed for it now either when he saw the men hanging around outside dressed in leather jacket and some just normal coats over their plain black collared shirts. They did catch a lot of attention when Touya drove up in his car.
"Fujisaki-san, I don't think I am fit to be here…." Touya said rather self consciously.
"What are you talking about?" Akari turned to him and saw he was still in his suit. "Oh, don't worry about it! Here let me help you…"
Akari reached to him loosen the tie he had and took it off him. Then reaching for his top few buttons of his shirt boldly, she started unbuttoning them. Touya felt like he was on fire from her touch but remained motionless on his seat could only stare at her actions in silence. What was she doing?
"There! You are ready! Now you are dress for it!" Akari exclaimed happily avoiding his eyes and getting out of the car quickly. "Come on…" She called before she shut the door and waited for Touya outside the car.
Touya looked down and saw Akari had undone five buttons at the top of his shirt revealing nearly half his chest, his heart still racing at her soft but quick movements when getting them undone. He turned to the back seat and grabbed a small box before he slowly got out of his car, afraid that any quick movements will really set him on fire and threw the key to the jockey standing next to his car waiting for him. Everyone would be eager to drive his car.
"I think it would be nice if you tug out your shirt too…." Akari said going over to him after he got out the car.
Touya quickly shove the small box into his pocket before doing what Akari had told him to and followed Akari into the dark pub, still trying to calm down. So, now Touya looked rather ruggedly handsome in a black coat, his front top buttons undone and his inner shirt tug out. He caught many girls attention when he walked through the crowd with Akari in his usual compose self with one hand shove into where he had the small box in the pocket of his matching black slacks.
The music was loud and there was an amazing crowd at the dance floor with disco lights flashing on them. They found Akari's friends at their regular dark corner of the pub on the round booth. There were two jugs of beers on the table and they looked like they had started their entertainment.
"You are late again!"
"Gomen, got held up at the ball!" Akari shouted over the blaring music slipping into the booth next to Kuniko and turned to Touya who still stood by the table. Without thinking Akari reached out to him and pulled him into the booth next to her. "Looks like you had started without us!"
Touya was still trying to simmer down the fire he felt earlier in the car remained rather quiet next to Akari and it was not working with her sitting so close to him.
"I never knew Touya-kun was coming!" Kuniko said looking at the very quiet and uncomfortable Go player.
"I didn't either!" Akari simply answered.
"Hey!" Kaga who was right opposite Akari started pouring a mug of beer for her. "You are late! Down this as punishment!" He pushed the filled mug to Akari.
"Hey, don't push Akari-chan!" Kuniko cried crossly.
"You want to share it?" Kaga asked raising his eyebrows.
Kuniko remained silent.
"I'll do it for her…." Yuuki spoke suddenly. He was rather quiet when he saw Akari coming in with Touya at her wake.
"Now looks who's talking…" Kaneko rolled her eyes.
"No," Akari quickly reached for the mug before Yuuki could. "I'll do it."
Touya widened his eyes staring at Akari, the fire he felt distinguished immediately. She's got to be kidding! When he saw her placed the mug on her lips and drank without stopping he only realized that she wasn't. Not knowing how to stop her, Touya could only stare until Akari slam the empty mug on the table. Now Touya was more worried than anything else.
"There done!" Akari smiled. "No biggie…."
"Right," Kaga grinned. "Train you well didn't I?"
"Fujisaki-san don't…." Touya shouted into her ear and only meant for her to hear. "You'll pass out for drinking so much! You had drunk quite a lot during the ball…"
"I won't…" Akari smiled back at Touya's worried features. "Relax and have fun Touya-kun…."
Touya could only watched Akari down another two mugs which added up to three before Kuniko, Kaneko, and she went out to the dance floor. Touya wondered if he should even let her get out there in the rowdy area. Soon everyone was on the dance floor except him and Yuuki.
When Touya felt Yuuki moving up next to him only did he turn to see him. He never like the way that guy glares at him and he always avoided looking at him. However, that night Yuuki wasn't glaring but rather watching his friends at the dance floor.
"You don't know Akari that well do you…."
"What do you mean?"
"If you are worried that this few drinks are going to affect her or make her pass out you are awfully mistaken." Yuuki said in his cool sort of way. "The first time she started drinking, well yeah she got drunk after the first mug of beer and passed out immediately but after so long, she had gotten immune to it. She no longer passes out on a couple of drinks…"
"She drinks a lot?"
"On occasions not always."
Touya turned back to the dance floor seeing Akari dancing an exotic and almost seductive dance with Kuniko. Their bodies seemed to work like one. Touya could feel heat rushing up his face and legs. It was a lucky thing that the place was too dark to notice anything. He quickly turned away from her trying to calm down. First the buttons, now this…
"However, Akari will be rather lightheaded after this few drinks." Yuuki smiled softly. "It's nothing much. She knows what she is doing but she will be wild unlike the normal down to earth Akari you see everyday. So you better take her home safely."
"I will…." Touya looked back at Yuuki with so much seriousness in his eyes that Yuuki left him at the booth satisfied of the little talk they had to join his groups of friends at the dance floor.
Touya wasn't left at the booth for long because soon after Yuuki walked off Akari came back to him and tried pulling him to the dance floor, he shook his head. This was something he will definitely not give in, even how Akari begged him. It was because Akari didn't let got of his arms in attempt to pull him to the dance floor, Touya pulled her forward slightly so she bent towards him. He leaned forward and shouted into her ear.
"I need some fresh air! Care to join me?"
Akari grinned and nodded.
They stepped out the pub greeting the cool winter air gladly and Akari giggling like a school girl running off a distance across the deserted street with Touya trying to keep up with her. He finally got near her when they reached the habour over looking the dark ocean and caught hold of one of her arm so she couldn't run any further. She whirled around grinning, her cheeks flushed.
"Fujisaki-san, the reason I ask you to come out with me because there is something I want to give you."
"What is it?" Akari inclined her head slightly.
Touya took out the small box he had shoved into his pocket earlier and held it out to her.
"For all the gifts and your time you had spent on me, a small thank you and belated Christmas gift."
"You shouldn't have Touya-kun…." Akari looked rather surprised her grin fading. She took the box from him slowly. "What is it?"
"Open it." Touya smiled.
Gingerly Akari opened the lid slowly and saw the most beautiful clear crystal carved into a shape of a snowman with full appearance of a top hat, eyes sharp nose mouth and buttons in front. It was only three centimeters big.
"It's so cute!" Akari smiled softly. "Thank you Touya-kun."
"I thought you would like it." Touya was glad to see how please Akari was.
"I love it!" Akari cried. "It's beautiful."
Akari twirl around buoyantly like a graceful ballerina, with the crystal snowman clutched in both her hands to her heart. She was after all feeling rather lightheaded after so many drinks or it was a little too many twists she felt dizzy and fell on Touya giggling softly. Inevitably, he caught her in his arms.
"Fujisaki-san, let me send you home…" Touya whispered softly steadying her on her feet.
"But I don't think so it's New Year Day yet!" Akari said looking up the sky. "There are always fireworks!"
"You like fireworks?"
"Well, they are rather pretty!" Akari replied still not moving away from Touya's arm she looked up. Their faces close together. "Don't you like them?"
"They do look nice…." Touya was captivated by how close Akari's face was to his. Up close he couldn't help but notice how her long lashes framing her beautiful set of eyes, very light and only visible up close, some cute freckles splashes across above both her cheekbones, near the eyes. "You are beautiful…." Touya whispered so softly and wondered if Akari heard them.
But to his misfortune and fortune Akari didn't, she moved away from him and began humming a soft comforting tune doing a ballerina step, twirl one full circle around on her toes with one feet curved up in the air in one graceful motion.
Touya was enchanted by how graceful she could dance. If she learned any classical dance, he was sure she will be really captivating when she waltzes around the ballroom. Then again, he realized that Akari took ballet instead, something he didn't know but glad to find out, a pleasant discovery of Akari's life that was worth knowing.
But she stopped what she was doing immediately after one full circle and winced slightly her arms wrapped around herself like she was in pain and almost falling.
Touya's arm shot out to her again before she slips to the ground. As of doing that, Touya accidentally pushed her sweater up and he was glad it stopped just somewhere beginning of her ribcage not exposing anything important while grabbing her just below her arms and caught sight of an old scar not far below her left rib. It was a rather long stitches mark stretched from below her rib up to where he couldn't see anymore. He guessed that scar could be easily fifteen centimeters long. He blinked and frowned wondering why he didn't spot that before when he was at the beach with her? Maybe it was because she had a white blouse over her bikini covering that scar.
"Sorry Touya-kun…." Akari laughed softly finally moving away from him unaware of what he had noticed and unconsciously straightened her clothes. "I hadn't been drinking much lately and I might be a little not use to it right now…"
"Fujisaki-san that…." Touya couldn't take his mind off that scar he saw but he can't possible tell Akari that he accidentally saw something she had shield away from everyone to see so his voice trail off.
"What is it Touya-kun."
"It's nothing…."
Touya couldn't take his mind off what he saw but he couldn't make himself to ask her. Did she get hurt long time ago? Maybe he will ask Hikaru what he had discovered and see if he can get the answer he wanted but Hikaru will be sure curious how he got to see that scar on such an intimate area of her body. He felt an agony of wanting to know eating inside of him but he held it back. Maybe one day Akari will tell him when she was ready to talk more about herself.
What Yuuki told him was true; he really didn't know much about Akari. Just then a ferry passed by the habour, he could hear the loud horn. With his arm around her shoulders he guided her to the jockey area to get his car. He is taking Akari back home and slightly glad that he drove today or he had to carry Akari all the way back to her apartment. A rather appealing idea but unattainable one since her apartment was at the other side of the town area. Touya couldn't help but thought that Akari was just full of surprises in store for him. He never knew walking into her café Eternal Snow will change his life so dramatically.
TBC
LOL Akari seemed a little drunk isn't she... ? Well I'm already starting the next chapter soon! Don't worry I won't let Harry Potter come into updating for everyone LOL! N really thank you for all your reviews! Chao for now!