Standard disclaimers apply.
A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! Here's chapter 3! I am glad some of you enjoy the Japanese touch that I added to the story…I am trying to portray a realistic side to modern lifestyle in Japan! More of like a reminiscence of my one month stay there on a foreign exchange program and my recent one week holiday there. Gosh, do I love that place. Anyway, please read and review!
Chapter 3: Her future, His past
"Megumi!"
Turning around, Megumi was overjoyed to see Kanryuu holding a huge bunch of roses, the smile on his face illuminated by the lights of the majestic Tokyo Tower. The night view of hamamatsu-cho, seen from the foot of the tower, made the entire scene even more spectacular; a scene that Megumi wanted to commit to permanent memory.
"Takeda-san!" She called out, running over to stand directly in front of him, as fast as her heels allowed.
"No more 'Takeda-san', Megumi. From now on, call me Kanryuu." He smiled down at her.
"H-hai…Kanryuu." Megumi blushed, her heart overflowing with bliss and excitement. He's going to propose to me!
Placing the bouquet down on the floor by their feet, he took her hands in hers. "Megumi, I have loved you ever since I first saw you in Fukushima." He said solemnly, his eyes fixed on hers. "Will you marry me?"
With that, he took out a red box from his pocket and opened it to reveal an elegant platinum diamond ring, which sparkled in the light from Tokyo Tower. This was the very moment that she has been waiting for ever since he left Fukushima to return to Tokyo.
Choking with emotion, Megumi managed to reply, "Hai! Mochiron dayo!"
"Yokatta na, Megumi." Kanryuu smiled with happiness. Closing the distance between them, he closed his eyes as Megumi closed hers, her lips curled up into a blissful smile as she waited for his lips to descend upon hers…
"RING!"
Megumi's eyes flew wide open at the loud disruption to her sweet dreams, before blushing furiously at the thought of her kissing…
Igarashi Reino!
Smiling back cheekily at her with one doe eye closed in a wink, clad in a bunny suit that was at least two sizes smaller than it should have been, from her position on the ceiling. Not to mention that very tacky cutie-pie phrase at the bottom of the life-size poster that reads "Konya, sabishii no?"
Absolutely horrifying. Ok. Maybe Sanosuke isn't as angelic as she made him out to be. The idea of having a soft porn actress stuck on your ceiling right above your bed isn't exactly Megumi's idea of tasteful interior design.
Sitting up as fast as she could to remove Igarashi Reino from her field of vision, Megumi took a glance at the bedside clock. 11.55am. Uso! I slept till almost noon! She had never slept past 9am before, and now she just did, in a stranger's home too! Rubbing the back of her hand across her eyes, Megumi took the opportunity to scrutinize her surroundings, and almost had a major heart palpitation. It would be more convincing if this place was introduced as a pigsty. Clothes, magazines, newspapers, half-eaten bags of chips, empty instant ramen cups, Gatsby hair wax…strewn all over the room. The clothes were messily shoved to the side, indicating that they had been on the bed before she occupied it. This will not do…Megumi thought, shaking her head, running a hand through her slightly tousled hair.
Pushing the covers off to the end, she noticed her coat neatly folded and placed at the end of the bed. Funny how he actually treats others' belongings with care…judging from the state his are in. She thought, slightly amused by the confusing actions of this man. Stepping off the bed, she noticed her boots placed by the side, while another pair of female boots was placed beside them. Surprised, she looked up from the floor to see a takeaway order from Yoshinoya, the bowl still in its carrier, a new toothbrush and a note beside it. Picking it up, Megumi scanned the messy handwriting scrawled on the back of an old receipt from Daimaru supermarket.
Megitsune e:
Ohayou. I got the boots from my next-door neighbor; hope it's OK though it's one size larger. (I checked out your show size) The toothbrush is for you, toothpaste's in the bathroom. And the food's for you…figured that you'll most probably be starving when I wake you up at 11.55am with the alarm clock, so I got the oomori. If you happen to get hungry before I return, go downstairs to the small restaurant on the opposite street. It's called Akabeko. Just put whatever you ate on Sanosuke's tab. They'll understand. I work there, but I am out on deliveries most of the time. Call me if there's anything.
Sanosuke
Below the note, was a hastily scribbled mobile phone number. Megumi smiled to herself; her luck was finally taking a turn for the better! She hadn't expect to bump into such a kind person after her streak of bad luck…it was as if Kami-sama had planned for her to meet this man…
Takani Megumi! What are you thinking about! You are in Tokyo because you are here to marry Takeda-san! She mentally slapped herself, stubbornly reminding herself of Takeda Kanryuu. Even though the last time the two of you actually interacted was via email three months ago…A small voice confessed from the back of her mind, bringing an overwhelming sense of disappointment. The entire idea of marriage to him was really quite vague…there was only a spoken promise, and from there on, nothing else. Not even words of endearment were exchanged over the telephone or via email. However, Takani Megumi was never one to give up. A promise was made, and she'll see to it that it is fulfilled.
Well, you'll be leaving as soon as he returns. Megumi! He's only a stranger you met last night. And he calls you dumb names like MEGITSUNE! Don't forget that Takeda-san is most probably frantically searching hamamatsu-cho for you! She chided herself.
Finally settling on that thought, she picked up the toothbrush and walked to the bathroom, grimacing throughout the less-than-10-seconds walk. Full of rubbish. Practically.
"I am back!" Sanosuke yelled as he stepped into the cozy interior of the Akabeko. "It sure is cold today! Anyway, here's 4630 yen for the two bowls of shoyu ramen." He added as he placed the receipt of his latest delivery and the money collected on the counter for Tae to check. Walking over to check for any further deliveries, he stopped in his tracks as he saw a familiar figure exiting the kitchen.
"Katsu! What are you doing here?"
"Visiting me, of course!" Tae bounced out from behind Katsu, clad in her usual uniform and holding a frying pan in her hand.
"So…I take it that you two made up?" Sanosuke asked uncertainly. Please…please say you did…I want my freedom back!
"What are you talking about? Me and my dearest tonkatsu have always been on good terms." Tae smiled, while making kissy faces at Katsu.
"Great. Congrats." Sanosuke tried his hardest not to burst out laughing while Katsu gave him a killer look. Tonkatsu! That's a classic. "So he goes back next door tonight?"
"Mochiron!" Tae smiled, finally letting go of Katsu and bringing out two boxes of gyoza from the kitchen.
"Sano, send this to Aoyama-san."
"Wakatta." He replied, taking the two boxes from Tae, briskly walking out of the restaurant to the Akabeko bicycle outside.
The chilly winter air rushed at Sanosuke's face the instant he stepped out of Akabeko, making him regret not staying indoors. Hurriedly strapping the two boxes of gyoza to the bicycle, he hopped on and pedaled in the direction of Aoyama's bookshop furiously in a bid to keep himself warm. It was not even 5 minutes when Sanosuke found himself outside that small bookshop, recently renovated to keep up with competition from bookstores like Kinokuniya. The sign that reads "Aoyama Honya" definitely looks more inviting with the new vibrant colours.
"Aoyama-san! The gyoza is here!" He called out, pushing the door open, eyes scanning the shop for any sign of the kindly middle-aged man.
"Sagara-san?" A surprised voice called out, slightly tinged with hesitation. A voice that he recognized immediately, for it was the very voice that he used to love so much.
"Sayo." He acknowledged stiffly. "It's good to see you."
"Kochira koso." She replied politely, bowing slightly, causing the pretty brown waves that framed her face to bounce a little. "How have you been? It's been a long time since-"
You rejected me? Sanosuke thought bitterly, his heart twisting with the painful memory.
Sayo seemed to have realized her mistake and was reduced to silence, looking at the floor in silent fascination, while her dainty fingers ran over the tiny silver cross hanging from her neck. The tension was so thick, it could be cut. Sanosuke was wracking his brains for something to say, something to start small talk when Aoyama-san came out from the storeroom at the back.
"Sanosuke!" He called out good-naturedly. "Akabeko's service sure is efficient!" Turning to Sayo, he passed her a book. "Omatase shimaimashita. Here's the book you want."
"Doumo arigatou gozaimasu." Sayo reached into her purse and pulled out a 1000 yen note, passing it to Aoyama-san.
"Pass that to this gentleman, will you? It's 1000 yen for the 2 boxes of gyoza." Aoyama said, while looking for a carrier to put Sayo's purchase in.
Nodding slightly, Sayo turned to face Sanosuke fully, holding out the note in her hand slowly.
"Arigatou." Sanosuke muttered as he took the note uneasily and proceeded to stuff it in his pocket. He always imagined how it would be like to meet her again, and now that he finally did, he realized that it was not easy seeing her. Seeing more of her beautiful, sweet demeanor just made him want her for himself all over again. It was the same feeling he had 2 years ago.
"I…I need to get going." He announced. "Ja."
"Hai. Ki wo tsukete…Mata ne." Sayo smiled gently as she waited for Aoyama-san to wrap her purchase up.
Without a backward glance, Sanosuke pulled the door open and stepped out into the cold that now seemed inviting after the awkward situation from which he just escaped from. Why is she still being so friendly? Doesn't she know that seeing her being all friendly and acting as if nothing happened hurt more? Sanosuke shook his head, smiling bitterly as if mocking himself.
She is the type who says "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu"…You are the type who say "Arigatou". She carries a Prada bag…you stuff your money in your pockets…She uses "Mata ne", you use "Ja"…We are of totally different class…Totally different beliefs…Why do I even bother? Why did I even try?
Sanosuke cycled on, the cold air whipping his spiky hair back slightly as he thought of Sayo in her white trench coat, clutching her Prada bag and smiling at him. His mind involuntarily went back to the night she rejected him directly.
"Sagara-san, we are too different. I am not what you are looking for, and we should not pursue things so aimlessly. God has planned for us to be good friends, so please do not try to go against His plans. You are a good man, and one day, you'll find a girl worthy of your affections."
"Tadaima!" Sanosuke called out as he stepped into his house. Usually, there wouldn't be any reply for he lived alone, but it was a habit he could never kick.
"Okaeri." Came a female voice from his kitchen, from which delicious smells were wafting out. Kicking his shoes aside, Sanosuke made his way to the small kitchen, were Megumi was.
"What are you doing?" Sanosuke blurted out abruptly, surprised to see Megumi hunched over a plate of onigiri.
"What do I look like I am doing, toriatama?" Megumi asked spitefully. He most probably doesn't understand what the word "gratitude" means…I am actually preparing a meal for him in thanks and he's talking to me as if he caught me stealing red-handed.
"Poison me?" He added in mock innocence.
"I am doing this because I am in your debt. And I wouldn't want to see you balding prematurely because of instant ramen overdose." She replied coolly, lifting the pot lid to check on the miso soup. "To think I actually went to the supermarket and bought ingredients to make dinner!"
Sanosuke must have been silent for some time, for Megumi continued softly. "Anyway, thanks for your help last night…and also for the boots, toothbrush and food. I'll pay you back accordingly as soon as I get my luggage back."
"Betsu ni iin dakedo." Sanosuke dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"In that case, arigatou gozaimasu."
Sanosuke cringed inwardly when he heard how Megumi's speech resembles Sayo in some aspects. Polite and gentle, with perfect Japanese grammar. The next few words from her left him surprised though.
"I'll be leaving tonight."
"They found your luggage?"
"No. Not yet. It is already bad enough to have imposed on you, and I'll be going to my boyfriend's company to find him tonight."
"You managed to contact him?" Sanosuke asked, feeling a teeny bit sour at talking about Megumi's boyfriend.
She paused for a moment when she heard his question, keeping her eyes downcast. "No. There was no reply. But I am positive I'll find him at his workplace, so I'll be leaving tonight. For now, let's have dinner."
Sanosuke nodded, and decided not to ask anymore at the sight of her being visibly upset. Helping to put out the chopsticks, he sat down to the first home-cooked meal he has had in years.
To be continued…
A/N: Yay! Chapter 3 is done! Please review if you liked it! Megumi will be going to look for Kanryuu next chapter!
Hai! Mochiron dayo! – Yes! Of course!
Yokatta na – That's great
Konya, sabishii no? – Are you lonely tonight?
Uso – No way!
Ohayou – Good morning
Oomori – upsize
Kami-sama – God
Shoyu ramen – soy sauce ramen
Tonkatsu – Pork cutlet (LOL I couldn't resist a bit of Japanese wordplay with Katsu's name…)
Mochiron – of course
Gyoza – meat dumplings
Wakatta – got it
Aoyama Honya – Aoyama Bookshop
Kochira koso – same for me
Omatase shimaimashita – sorry to have kept you waiting
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu – Thank you very much
"Ja" – See you (very casual form of Japanese conversation)
Hai. Ki wo tsukete…Mata ne – Right. Take care of yourself...I'll see you around.
Tadaima – I am home!
Okaeri – Welcome home
Onigiri – rice balls
Betsu ni iin dakedo – Never mind, it's ok (casual form)