Wow I got 10+ reviews so fast! I expected at least a week. Thanks to
Purple-Starz83, Asc, Shi-Kitsune1, Sailor Angie, Huijuan, kiri, RARA_!!!,
louise28, thidathai, just a teen, Nadia, Nora, and kami here's the next
chapter as promised.
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Part II: The Morning After
Chapter 7: Soujiro's thoughts
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"Tsukasa, let's walk today."
"Walk?" Tsukasa was flabbergasted. In all the years he's been in school he had never once walked there.
"It's a good weather and it takes less than twenty minutes to get to school. And besides you should walk those ridiculously long legs of yours."
"Just because you're short doesn't mean I need to walk." Tsukushi kicked Tsukasa.
"Ow! Okay! I'll walk." Tsukasa rubbed his butt, "You really should learn to be more lady-like. That's why you're taking Eisai classes. But then again I don't think you'll become lady no matter what you learn."
Tsukushi's hand clenched in a fist.
"I knew it was them. What other couple would argue so loud early in the morning?" Tsukushi turned around and saw Soujiro and Akira.
"Even though they're together, that much never changes," Akira commented.
"She started it," Tsukasa said.
"No! You did."
"You did."
"You did."
Soujiro and Akira shook their heads in exasperation. They were both kids. It seems like their vacation hadn't changed the nature of their relationship.
"So, Tsukushi, you're sleeping over at Tsukasa's now?"
Tsukushi and Tsukasa flushed beet red.
Both Akira and Soujiro snickered. Akira hung an arm over Tsukushi's shoulder and Soujiro did likewise with Tsukasa. "It's a shame. Now we can't tease you two about being virgins!"
"When was it? It had to be during the trip. Tell us Tsukasa, what did you do to convince Tsukushi?" Akira teased.
If possible Tsukushi and Tsukasa turned even redder. Tsukushi couldn't stand their teasing and ran away.
She didn't stop running until she got inside the school. Still panting she vowed to get revenge on Akira and Soujiro.
"Tsukushi-chan!" Tsukushi turned around to see Kazuya flying at her. She braced herself, but he didn't attack her. He stopped a few millimeters short. "You didn't contact me when you came back! I had to hear from other people." Kazuya looked at Tsukushi's left hand. "The rumors were true after all," Kazuya wailed. "Tsukushi chose money!"
Tsukushi sweat dropped. She knew Kazuya was going to have this reaction, that's why she didn't want to contact him. "Why do you have to put it that way?"
Kazuya was stunned, "Yo-you're telling me that you actually love Doumyouji-san? That loud obnoxious egotistical spoiled brat?" Then all of a sudden he felt a murderous air behind him.
"Who are you talking about?" Kazuya jumped up and ran behind Tsukushi, using her to shield Doumyouji's wrath.
"You of course," Tsukushi retorted, "Who else fits that description?"
Soujiro and Akira were behind Tsukasa. They were about to intervene but they shook their heads and didn't even want to try. They left Tsukushi and Tsukasa and walked out to the courtyard.
Wherever they went girls talked, ecstatic to be graced with their presence. Soujiro and Akira smiled and waved to the girls. Soujiro blew a kiss to some of the girls who then fainted. Soujiro smiled. He loved female attention. It didn't matter that they didn't know who he really was. All they knew about him was that he's rich and handsome. That was all Soujiro wanted them to know.
He wasn't ready for a long term relationship, didn't think he ever will be. Maybe he's more alike to his dad than he had originally thought. His dad was also a player, even though he was married. The marriage was a scam anyway, arranged by their parents, so there was no love between the two. But then he could hardly blame his dad for straying. His mom was like an iceberg. She was always serene. He had never seen her happy or sad.
He was probably doomed to the same kind of marriage as his parents. He already expected to be given an arranged marriage when he comes out of college. He didn't have a girl he'd be willing to give up everything for like Tsukasa. But then again he didn't want one. To love that intensely brought about a lot of pain. And watching those two he knew he would have given up halfway. Besides he was happy with his life. True, he couldn't say he had a happy family but he loved the riches and comfort he was born with. He wouldn't trade that with anything. And he could have his pick of women. Life was good.
Then why did he sometimes feel lacking?
"Akira, I have to go somewhere. I'll see you later."
Akira nodded, puzzled at Soujiro's sudden reaction. He was so happy receiving ogling from the girls just a few seconds ago. Akira shrugged and was about to continue walking when the girls attacked him. He looked at them in fear. He had forgotten that when one of them was along they get attack, except for Tsukasa. Akira ran away, but the girls didn't give up and chased after him.
Soujiro walked outside of the gates and walked to the preschool area. He walked into an alleyway and stopped at the dead end. He took out his pendant and placed it in the hole on the wall. The brick wall separated into two. Soujiro walked through. He's been to this place countless times, at least once or twice a month.
He walked toward the swing, sat down and closed his eyes. This garden was the only place that gave him a feeling of serenity. His home was quiet but it was filled with tension. He might have been imagining it but he couldn't deny that he felt restless at home. That was probably why he liked to spend nights in another woman's home. And even then he sometimes felt restless.
But this garden was different. He didn't know if it was because the garden was peaceful or if it was because he had happy memories here. It was probably the latter. He got up and walked around. He wore gloves and tended to some of the flowers. He smiled slightly. If people saw him now they would probably be stunned. He could've hired someone to tend to the garden but for some reason it felt wrong to do so. If he did this garden would no longer be special.
He spent the better part of the hour working on the flowers. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. He didn't like to manual labor but he didn't mind doing this. He stopped when the sun shined on his face. He looked at his watch and realized school had ended for sometime already. He walked further into the garden. He walked past the zen garden without looking down, missing the picture drawn.
He walked past the rose bush and took out his pendant. He knelt down and placed his pendant in the hole on the brick wall. The wall slid open to reveal a lighted tunnel. The tunnel was plain, red brick walled. There were no decorations. Soujiro walked for a minute until he reached another wall. He stepped on a black stone and the wall slid open to the right, revealing his room.
It was plain and spacious. There were a couple of other doors in his room which led to a walk in closet and a bathroom. He didn't feel the need to decorate his room since he was rarely in it. When he brought girls home he never brought them here. He took them to another room, a bigger room and hired an interior designer who knew what kind of room would appeal to women. That room had a glass ceiling where you could gaze at stars. There were places to put candles for a dim lighting. He knew women loved a romantic atmosphere. And also that room had easy access to sneak out.
But Soujiro didn't need anything special in a room where he slept by himself. He went into his closet to change into something else. He always liked to change whenever he came home, even though he goes out again.
He called Akira while he was looking for something stylish to wear, not that there was anything unfashionable in his wardrobe.
"Hey, you ditched the rest of the day?"
"Yeah," he was about to shrug when he realized Akira couldn't see him. "Just didn't feel like it."
"Something wrong?" Soujiro smiled slightly. Akira was always worried about one of them. Of them four, he was the most dependable.
"No, it was nothing. Just a mood, I'm over it now."
Akira let it go. He knew that if Soujiro wanted to talk he would. "Your call, so what's up?"
"I'm in the mood to go out. You busy?"
"Tonight? Sorry, today her husband's out of town for the night so I want to spend it with her."
"You should just find a woman who's single. It'll save you a lot of grief. I know plenty of girls I can hook you up with."
"No thanks. I can find my own women and besides dating a married woman is part of the fun."
Soujiro shook his head. Why would anyone willingly bring himself grief? "Your choice."
"Listen, I have to go. I'll hang out with you some other night."
"Sure." They both hung up.
Soujiro was disappointed that he was going to go out alone. Calling Tsukasa was out of the question, he had Tsukushi. Soujiro smiled thinking about them. They were made for each other. Who else was so alike to Tsukasa? They both had fiery tempers. A girl like Tsukushi would exhaust him within minutes, not physically but mentally. She was just too complex. He liked women who were simple and straightforward, sexy and confident.
He left the house minutes later and went to a club he frequented. The minute he stepped in the women surrounded him, even the women who came with a date.
Soujiro smiled easily, looking at each of them to see who he wanted to spend the night with. He didn't like women who were too eager to be with him. They always wanted more from him, like a steady. They thought that just because he spent a night with them they were special. He wasn't clueless. He knew these women would spread their legs easily to any man with money.
Sometimes he didn't mind. After all he got something from them too. He always had some pretty bauble on hand. From his experience he knew that all women were thrilled to receive them. Their eyes glittered the same way diamonds sparkled under the light.
He looked around and saw a woman dancing with her girlfriend. She was smiling like there wasn't a care in the world. He excused himself from the girls surrounding him, and walked toward the dance floor. The girls behind him pouted, sad that they didn't catch Soujiro's interest.
Soujiro tapped the woman. She stopped dancing and noticed who it was. "Nishikado-san!"
He smiled, "Dance with me." He held her by the waist and kept her close to him. His dancing was so provocative that she was losing control of herself. She was still in shock that he was dancing with her.
They danced for the better part of the night. When Soujiro decided he had enough he leaned into her ear. "Your place or mine?"
It took her a second to register what he was asking. "Yours."
"Let's go." He led her out of the club. She blindly followed him. Her brain was so fuddled she couldn't think straight.
There was a car waiting for them. He opened the door for her. She was instantly charmed by such a gentlemanly gesture.
He started kissing her, not allowing her time to think. He was careful to keep her dressed. He wanted to make her excited without rushing her. When the car stopped he got out first and turned around to pick up the girl. Soujiro brought her in through the side entrance.
They didn't sleep until. a lot later.
********
They had sex again in the morning. When she finally calmed down she realized what she had done. And she couldn't believe it. She had sex with a guy she didn't even know! Well she sort of knew him. Who didn't? He was Nishikado Soujiro, one of the richest and handsomest man in Tokyo, and probably all of Japan. But other than his name and social status she didn't know anything else about him. And he didn't know anything else about her either. But, she supposed, he didn't mind as much as she did. To him she was undoubtedly just another woman.
"Nishikado-san?"
"Hmm?" He was still tired from the lack of sleep.
"Why me? I-I mean you could have your pick of women, so why me?"
Soujiro rolled his eyes but the girl couldn't see since her head was on his shoulder. Why did girls always have to ask? Why couldn't they just be satisfied and happy he chose them. "I was captivated by your dancing." Which was true enough.
The girl narrowed her eyes. She didn't think she was dancing special last night, and she didn't even wear sexy clothes, just jeans and a t- shirt. But then again what did she expect him to say? That he fell in love with her at first sight? Yeah right. Not a rich guy like him.
She mentally sighed. "I'm going to go." She got up to pick up her clothes. Oddly enough they were all in one piece. She thought they would be ruined by how intense their need was, but maybe that intensity was just all on her part.
"Wait, before you go, I want you to have this." He reached for the item he had in his jacket. "As a remembrance of me."
He gave her a sapphire and diamond necklace. She looked at it and thought it must've cost a fortune. The necklace shimmered under the light. She tore her gaze away from the necklace to his eyes. Was he trying to pay her for last night? He looked at her and smiled. The same smile from last night. She couldn't resist that smile, and took the necklace. It really was beautiful. "Thank you." She took a pen and paper from her bag and wrote down her name and number. "Call me."
"Sure." He took the piece of paper from her hand. He placed it on the table. He got dressed and walked her out.
He came back into the room and dumped the piece of paper into the trash can, without even looking at her name.
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What do you think? Soujiro's a bit cold, but this is how I perceived him. I wanted to write a bit about his personal life and thoughts before focusing more on him and Ryoko. And about Ryoko. I know it's vague and confusing but I meant for it to be like that since Ryoko doesn't know anything about her past either. Don't worry I'll fill in the gaps.eventually. Hehe
And I'm still surprised I got 10+ reviews so fast. Are you sure you don't want to drag this fic out longer? ( Well since everyone is so eager, I'll use the policy again but this time it's 15 reviews ^_^ because I don't have the next chapter written up already, but at least I don't have writer's block right now.
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Part II: The Morning After
Chapter 7: Soujiro's thoughts
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"Tsukasa, let's walk today."
"Walk?" Tsukasa was flabbergasted. In all the years he's been in school he had never once walked there.
"It's a good weather and it takes less than twenty minutes to get to school. And besides you should walk those ridiculously long legs of yours."
"Just because you're short doesn't mean I need to walk." Tsukushi kicked Tsukasa.
"Ow! Okay! I'll walk." Tsukasa rubbed his butt, "You really should learn to be more lady-like. That's why you're taking Eisai classes. But then again I don't think you'll become lady no matter what you learn."
Tsukushi's hand clenched in a fist.
"I knew it was them. What other couple would argue so loud early in the morning?" Tsukushi turned around and saw Soujiro and Akira.
"Even though they're together, that much never changes," Akira commented.
"She started it," Tsukasa said.
"No! You did."
"You did."
"You did."
Soujiro and Akira shook their heads in exasperation. They were both kids. It seems like their vacation hadn't changed the nature of their relationship.
"So, Tsukushi, you're sleeping over at Tsukasa's now?"
Tsukushi and Tsukasa flushed beet red.
Both Akira and Soujiro snickered. Akira hung an arm over Tsukushi's shoulder and Soujiro did likewise with Tsukasa. "It's a shame. Now we can't tease you two about being virgins!"
"When was it? It had to be during the trip. Tell us Tsukasa, what did you do to convince Tsukushi?" Akira teased.
If possible Tsukushi and Tsukasa turned even redder. Tsukushi couldn't stand their teasing and ran away.
She didn't stop running until she got inside the school. Still panting she vowed to get revenge on Akira and Soujiro.
"Tsukushi-chan!" Tsukushi turned around to see Kazuya flying at her. She braced herself, but he didn't attack her. He stopped a few millimeters short. "You didn't contact me when you came back! I had to hear from other people." Kazuya looked at Tsukushi's left hand. "The rumors were true after all," Kazuya wailed. "Tsukushi chose money!"
Tsukushi sweat dropped. She knew Kazuya was going to have this reaction, that's why she didn't want to contact him. "Why do you have to put it that way?"
Kazuya was stunned, "Yo-you're telling me that you actually love Doumyouji-san? That loud obnoxious egotistical spoiled brat?" Then all of a sudden he felt a murderous air behind him.
"Who are you talking about?" Kazuya jumped up and ran behind Tsukushi, using her to shield Doumyouji's wrath.
"You of course," Tsukushi retorted, "Who else fits that description?"
Soujiro and Akira were behind Tsukasa. They were about to intervene but they shook their heads and didn't even want to try. They left Tsukushi and Tsukasa and walked out to the courtyard.
Wherever they went girls talked, ecstatic to be graced with their presence. Soujiro and Akira smiled and waved to the girls. Soujiro blew a kiss to some of the girls who then fainted. Soujiro smiled. He loved female attention. It didn't matter that they didn't know who he really was. All they knew about him was that he's rich and handsome. That was all Soujiro wanted them to know.
He wasn't ready for a long term relationship, didn't think he ever will be. Maybe he's more alike to his dad than he had originally thought. His dad was also a player, even though he was married. The marriage was a scam anyway, arranged by their parents, so there was no love between the two. But then he could hardly blame his dad for straying. His mom was like an iceberg. She was always serene. He had never seen her happy or sad.
He was probably doomed to the same kind of marriage as his parents. He already expected to be given an arranged marriage when he comes out of college. He didn't have a girl he'd be willing to give up everything for like Tsukasa. But then again he didn't want one. To love that intensely brought about a lot of pain. And watching those two he knew he would have given up halfway. Besides he was happy with his life. True, he couldn't say he had a happy family but he loved the riches and comfort he was born with. He wouldn't trade that with anything. And he could have his pick of women. Life was good.
Then why did he sometimes feel lacking?
"Akira, I have to go somewhere. I'll see you later."
Akira nodded, puzzled at Soujiro's sudden reaction. He was so happy receiving ogling from the girls just a few seconds ago. Akira shrugged and was about to continue walking when the girls attacked him. He looked at them in fear. He had forgotten that when one of them was along they get attack, except for Tsukasa. Akira ran away, but the girls didn't give up and chased after him.
Soujiro walked outside of the gates and walked to the preschool area. He walked into an alleyway and stopped at the dead end. He took out his pendant and placed it in the hole on the wall. The brick wall separated into two. Soujiro walked through. He's been to this place countless times, at least once or twice a month.
He walked toward the swing, sat down and closed his eyes. This garden was the only place that gave him a feeling of serenity. His home was quiet but it was filled with tension. He might have been imagining it but he couldn't deny that he felt restless at home. That was probably why he liked to spend nights in another woman's home. And even then he sometimes felt restless.
But this garden was different. He didn't know if it was because the garden was peaceful or if it was because he had happy memories here. It was probably the latter. He got up and walked around. He wore gloves and tended to some of the flowers. He smiled slightly. If people saw him now they would probably be stunned. He could've hired someone to tend to the garden but for some reason it felt wrong to do so. If he did this garden would no longer be special.
He spent the better part of the hour working on the flowers. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. He didn't like to manual labor but he didn't mind doing this. He stopped when the sun shined on his face. He looked at his watch and realized school had ended for sometime already. He walked further into the garden. He walked past the zen garden without looking down, missing the picture drawn.
He walked past the rose bush and took out his pendant. He knelt down and placed his pendant in the hole on the brick wall. The wall slid open to reveal a lighted tunnel. The tunnel was plain, red brick walled. There were no decorations. Soujiro walked for a minute until he reached another wall. He stepped on a black stone and the wall slid open to the right, revealing his room.
It was plain and spacious. There were a couple of other doors in his room which led to a walk in closet and a bathroom. He didn't feel the need to decorate his room since he was rarely in it. When he brought girls home he never brought them here. He took them to another room, a bigger room and hired an interior designer who knew what kind of room would appeal to women. That room had a glass ceiling where you could gaze at stars. There were places to put candles for a dim lighting. He knew women loved a romantic atmosphere. And also that room had easy access to sneak out.
But Soujiro didn't need anything special in a room where he slept by himself. He went into his closet to change into something else. He always liked to change whenever he came home, even though he goes out again.
He called Akira while he was looking for something stylish to wear, not that there was anything unfashionable in his wardrobe.
"Hey, you ditched the rest of the day?"
"Yeah," he was about to shrug when he realized Akira couldn't see him. "Just didn't feel like it."
"Something wrong?" Soujiro smiled slightly. Akira was always worried about one of them. Of them four, he was the most dependable.
"No, it was nothing. Just a mood, I'm over it now."
Akira let it go. He knew that if Soujiro wanted to talk he would. "Your call, so what's up?"
"I'm in the mood to go out. You busy?"
"Tonight? Sorry, today her husband's out of town for the night so I want to spend it with her."
"You should just find a woman who's single. It'll save you a lot of grief. I know plenty of girls I can hook you up with."
"No thanks. I can find my own women and besides dating a married woman is part of the fun."
Soujiro shook his head. Why would anyone willingly bring himself grief? "Your choice."
"Listen, I have to go. I'll hang out with you some other night."
"Sure." They both hung up.
Soujiro was disappointed that he was going to go out alone. Calling Tsukasa was out of the question, he had Tsukushi. Soujiro smiled thinking about them. They were made for each other. Who else was so alike to Tsukasa? They both had fiery tempers. A girl like Tsukushi would exhaust him within minutes, not physically but mentally. She was just too complex. He liked women who were simple and straightforward, sexy and confident.
He left the house minutes later and went to a club he frequented. The minute he stepped in the women surrounded him, even the women who came with a date.
Soujiro smiled easily, looking at each of them to see who he wanted to spend the night with. He didn't like women who were too eager to be with him. They always wanted more from him, like a steady. They thought that just because he spent a night with them they were special. He wasn't clueless. He knew these women would spread their legs easily to any man with money.
Sometimes he didn't mind. After all he got something from them too. He always had some pretty bauble on hand. From his experience he knew that all women were thrilled to receive them. Their eyes glittered the same way diamonds sparkled under the light.
He looked around and saw a woman dancing with her girlfriend. She was smiling like there wasn't a care in the world. He excused himself from the girls surrounding him, and walked toward the dance floor. The girls behind him pouted, sad that they didn't catch Soujiro's interest.
Soujiro tapped the woman. She stopped dancing and noticed who it was. "Nishikado-san!"
He smiled, "Dance with me." He held her by the waist and kept her close to him. His dancing was so provocative that she was losing control of herself. She was still in shock that he was dancing with her.
They danced for the better part of the night. When Soujiro decided he had enough he leaned into her ear. "Your place or mine?"
It took her a second to register what he was asking. "Yours."
"Let's go." He led her out of the club. She blindly followed him. Her brain was so fuddled she couldn't think straight.
There was a car waiting for them. He opened the door for her. She was instantly charmed by such a gentlemanly gesture.
He started kissing her, not allowing her time to think. He was careful to keep her dressed. He wanted to make her excited without rushing her. When the car stopped he got out first and turned around to pick up the girl. Soujiro brought her in through the side entrance.
They didn't sleep until. a lot later.
********
They had sex again in the morning. When she finally calmed down she realized what she had done. And she couldn't believe it. She had sex with a guy she didn't even know! Well she sort of knew him. Who didn't? He was Nishikado Soujiro, one of the richest and handsomest man in Tokyo, and probably all of Japan. But other than his name and social status she didn't know anything else about him. And he didn't know anything else about her either. But, she supposed, he didn't mind as much as she did. To him she was undoubtedly just another woman.
"Nishikado-san?"
"Hmm?" He was still tired from the lack of sleep.
"Why me? I-I mean you could have your pick of women, so why me?"
Soujiro rolled his eyes but the girl couldn't see since her head was on his shoulder. Why did girls always have to ask? Why couldn't they just be satisfied and happy he chose them. "I was captivated by your dancing." Which was true enough.
The girl narrowed her eyes. She didn't think she was dancing special last night, and she didn't even wear sexy clothes, just jeans and a t- shirt. But then again what did she expect him to say? That he fell in love with her at first sight? Yeah right. Not a rich guy like him.
She mentally sighed. "I'm going to go." She got up to pick up her clothes. Oddly enough they were all in one piece. She thought they would be ruined by how intense their need was, but maybe that intensity was just all on her part.
"Wait, before you go, I want you to have this." He reached for the item he had in his jacket. "As a remembrance of me."
He gave her a sapphire and diamond necklace. She looked at it and thought it must've cost a fortune. The necklace shimmered under the light. She tore her gaze away from the necklace to his eyes. Was he trying to pay her for last night? He looked at her and smiled. The same smile from last night. She couldn't resist that smile, and took the necklace. It really was beautiful. "Thank you." She took a pen and paper from her bag and wrote down her name and number. "Call me."
"Sure." He took the piece of paper from her hand. He placed it on the table. He got dressed and walked her out.
He came back into the room and dumped the piece of paper into the trash can, without even looking at her name.
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What do you think? Soujiro's a bit cold, but this is how I perceived him. I wanted to write a bit about his personal life and thoughts before focusing more on him and Ryoko. And about Ryoko. I know it's vague and confusing but I meant for it to be like that since Ryoko doesn't know anything about her past either. Don't worry I'll fill in the gaps.eventually. Hehe
And I'm still surprised I got 10+ reviews so fast. Are you sure you don't want to drag this fic out longer? ( Well since everyone is so eager, I'll use the policy again but this time it's 15 reviews ^_^ because I don't have the next chapter written up already, but at least I don't have writer's block right now.