Rental Girlfriend: The Crossroads (Short Story) Part 1

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

The Initial Problem:

"Sorry...But I have a Boyfriend." Chizuru said to a young Man that just asked her out as she tried to think of a solution to her most recent blunder. She had allowed someone that she had once blocked from Renting her. To Rent her again. She had been leery at first, but she relented and agreed to unblocking him since he apologized for what he had done to get him blocked in the first place. "Back then he had groped my Ass and then asking me to go home with him. I should have gone with my first instinct and not believed that he had changed into a descent guy." She muttered as she once more blocked Shinju Hajima from renting her ever again. Since he had left her a good fifty miles from home. She knew she should have never agreed to allow him to change the Dates Itinerary to involve taking a ride in his Car. But she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and he was paying her to be his Rental Girlfriend. That mistake had left her now stranded where she was and with hardly any options. Especially since none of the Trains or Buses ran from here to home. "Oh he knew all about this and planned for this." She muttered again completely disappointed in herself for letting this happen. To make matters even worse was after he left because she rejected and rebuked his advances. She was now being hit on just about any Man that happened to come across her at the Small Convenient Store that Shinju had abandoned her at. "Okay...Can't call Grandma...She doesn't have a Car. Same with Shinbo and Kawanaka." She then tried to think of someone else she could call to help her and then realized she did not know that many people. With a deep exhale she thought of only one person she could count on that would not use this against her. The only one that she knew she could absolutely trust. The one that she had thought of when that last Man asked her out. Dialing his number. "Uhm...Kazuya...I am in trouble. Do you think you can help me?" She said to him right after he answered.

It took Kazuya an hour to first find Takeshi Sasono and then beg his friend to let him borrow his car. Ten minutes later, he texted Chizuru and let her know he was on his way. He could not believe what he had to promise Takeshi before being allowed to borrow the Car. He would have to wash, wax and vacuum out the Car after he returned it. Along with filling up the Gas Tank. But right now he did not really worry about that as he drove towards where Chizuru had told him where she was waiting. Knowing it would take about an hour to get there.

Sitting on one of the Benches, Chizuru smiled as she read the Text from Kazuya that he was on his way and should arrive within the next hour. She sighed with relief. "Of course I can always count on him when I need him. He is like my Knight in Shinning Armor...Ready and Willing to save me whenever I need to be rescued." She thought as she sat there waiting. "Maybe it is time I reevaluate my life." she said and then shook her head. "Maybe instead of Quitting being a Rental three months from now...I need to Quit now. But what about Kazuya if I quit?" She then bit her bottom lip and thought about him. She had decided to remain a Rental for the next couple of months because of him. Not wanting to no longer see him and at the same time unable to admit to him that she wanted to be more then a Rental Girlfriend to him.

To her relief and Chizuru being in the process of being asked out again by another Guy. Kazuya arrived, her Knight in Shinning Armor. "Sorry but I have a boyfriend and there he is." She said as she stood and waved to him. Kazuya smiled and waved back. The guy grimaced and she knew he wanted to make a comment about there was no way someone like her would be with someone like Kazuya. But before he could, she quickly walked over to the Car and Kazuya opened the Passenger side door for her. "Saying thank you seems not to be enough for doing this." She said to him and Kazuya shook his head.

"No. It was no problem." Kazuya said and Chizuru already suspected that it was an inconvenience to him. But once more he came to her rescue without any real comment or complaint.

"Well still...Thank you Kazuya." Chizuru said as she got into the Car. "On the way back...Dinner is on me." She told him and he shrugged with acceptance. A few minutes later the silence was getting to her. For neither had said anything, so she decided to tell him how she got into this situation. "I royally screwed up." He glanced over at her then went back to paying attention to driving. "I should have known better, but I let a client convince me to go for a Ride in his Car. He completely changed the Date itinerary and I let him." She said and then noticed his not so subtle change of expression when she had mentioned DATE. She knew it did bother him that she went out with others on Rental Dates. It was purely psychological for she already knew that he was in love with her and for her going out with someone else did effect him.

"You should be careful Mizu...Chizuru." Kazuya said, remembering that she had asked him a month ago to call her by Chizuru and not Mizuhara. He was not quite used to it yet and he had blundered a number of times. "There are some really bad people out there." He told her and she smiled coyly. Finding it extremely pleasant that he actually worried about her enough to say that.

"Yes I know." Chizuru said back. Then made the decision it was time to drop the bomb. "I think instead of quitting a few months from now...I am going to quit sooner then that." When he almost veered into the wrong lane, she knew that it had upset him to hear that.

"How...How soon?" Kazuya asked sullenly and Chizuru gave a soft chuckle.

"End of the Month. I will need that long to cancel all my Booked Dates and notify my Agency." Chizuru said and then noticed the small tears that began to form in Kazuya's eyes. He quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of his shirt..

"Oh. If that is what you want to do." Kazuya said and Chizuru could easily detect the sadness in his voice. She could tell that he was not ready for her to quit yet. The silence returned for a few minutes.

"There is a Diner up ahead...let's stop." Chizuru said and Kazuya simply nodded. Pulling into the Diner. Inside after they found a booth, he headed for the bathroom. Once and after the door shut, he almost broke down. He knew that within a short time.

"Three Short Months. I thought I would have three Months to...deal with her no longer being a Rental. Or that I would be able to rent her. Now..." Kazuya hung his head and felt the tears begin to drop down his cheeks. "Now I may never see her again." Using some toilet paper he dried his eyes and then used some cold water to reduce the puffiness so that Chizuru would not notice that he was upset. Returning to the table she smiled as he sat down.

"Order whatever you want...My Treat." Chizuru told him and saw the light puffiness in his eyes. She already knew why he seemed to be upset. That he believed that after a short time he would never see her again. If he did it would be at a distance and perhaps a few times outside their Apartments. That would be it. Once back home, she thanked him again and promised to make it up to him for helping her. Though she had no idea what it would be.

Another Problem:

Visiting her Grandmother, Chizuru sat across from her Grandmother drinking Tea at a Local Cafe. Bracing herself for what was about to come. For the past two months and upon her visits. Her Grandmother would not so casually bring up a subject that she hoped that she would not. But with Kazuya's Grandmother talking to hers. There was really no escaping it. "So any good news that you wish to share about you and Kazuya?" Sayuri asked and Chizuru exhaled with a sigh then rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Chizuru asked though she already knew what news that her and Kazuya's Grandmother wanted to hear. Both of the Elder Women wanted their Grandchildren to become something that involved a Ceremony and Vows. Her Grandmother smiled.

"You know exactly what I mean. You and him have been together for over a year now. By now you two have to be thinking about finalizing your relationship." Sayuri said and Chizuru shook her head. Wondering if she should throw Kazuya under the bus and state that he has not asked her yet. That way for a brief time, the two Grandmothers would focus their energy upon him. But that would only make things worse for the two. Since both of the elders had it in their collective minds that she and Kazuya should get married. Reaching over to get a napkin with her left hand, her grandmother gasped. "WAIT! DID HE ALREADY?" She asked and Chizuru looked down at her hand.

"OH CRAP! I forgot to take it off!" Chizuru said to herself as she stared at her hand wide eyed. She had not realized she had still had the ring on her finger. She had put it on earlier as she had done several times before when the mood struck her to wear it. She would sit in front of a Mirror in her Bathroom and introduce herself as Chizuru Kinoshita to the reflection. Just to see how it sounds. She realized what had happened. She had received a BOOKING Request and had focused upon that then totally forgot to take the Ring off and put it away. That was the only explanation she could think of. Now she was in trouble and as she looked at her Grandmother. Seeing the hope and joy in her Grandmothers expression. She could not just say no. If she did she could tell it would negatively effect her Grandmother. So she had no other option. "Uhm...Well...Yes." She said then watched as her Grandmother begin to cry and then hug her enthusiastically.

While her Grandmother Sayuri went to call Nagomi. Chizuru stood and went outside to call Kazuya. Having really no idea how to tell him that she had somehow really messed up. When he answered, she told him to meet her outside the Cafe as soon as he could get here and to not talk to his Grandmother no matter what. He was of course completely confused. But agreed. She glanced inside to see her Grandmother telling everyone within the glorious news. Kazuya came running up to her about fifteen minutes later. He was still wearing his Work Uniform and he had a concerned and confused expression on his face. It took him about five minutes to catch his breath as he leaned over and placed his hands onto his knees. "You want to tell me why Grans has called me ten times and texted me about twenty times in the last ten minutes since you called me?" He asked her still puffing slightly for breath. She exhaled with a deep sigh and blushed slightly.

"I...I really screwed up." Chizuru then showed him the Diamond Ring on her finger. "For some stupid insane reason I had put this on and my Grandmother saw it." She told him and he instantly recognized the Ring as his Grandmothers.

"Wait! Where did you get that?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru shook her head.

"Your Grandmother gave it to me when we went to visit her...A month ago. So I could...make sure it fits." Chizuru said feeling a little ashamed that she had kept the ring for this long. He glanced inside and saw Sayuri beaming with delight.

"So what do we do now?" Kazuya asked for he had no idea himself. Now realizing why his own Grandmother was so desperate to talk to him. Chizuru shrugged.

"I...I haven't a clue. We can't tell her the truth or your Grandmother either." Chizuru looked back in at her Grandmother. Mentally noting that her Grandmother never looked so ecstatically happy. "I guess we just tell them that we are engaged." He gasped.

"WE ARE WHAT?" Kazuya said too loudly, staring at her wide eyed and Chizuru shushed him.

"Engaged. Engaged to be married." Chizuru said and Kazuya began to weave a little back and forth. As if he was about to faint.

"Are you insane. We are not...not even a real couple." Kazuya said and Chizuru shrugged again.

"So. Nothing says we can't be one." Chizuru told him and Kazuya swallowed heavily. Still staring at her utterly confused. "Oh come on Kazuya...I know you...lets say harbor feeling for me. That you have fallen in...Love with me." She noticed that he was starting to sweat. Which was something since it was about 50 Degrees outside. His eyes dilated and he looked as if he was about to faint.

"How? How did you figure out that I...I had?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru laughed.

"Any idiot could tell. I knew that you had a long time ago. I would guess about right after that incident with me falling off the Ferry or a little after that. You were not exactly subtle." Chizuru said and Kazuya paled even more. "Maybe it might be a good idea if we sat down on that bench. You look like you are about to keel over." She gestured over at a nearby Bus Bench and they both went to sit down.

"Okay...Yes I have. But still this is insane. For us to be engaged...We are skipping a whole lot of steps to even consider...that." Kazuya admitted and Chizuru laughed again.

"Would it help if I told you..." Chizuru nervously took a deep breath. "I have...or had...Kazuya...I have...I have fallen for you as well." She admitted and he paled again. He began to weave a little back and forth as he stared at her in shock.

"WHAT?" Kazuya said loudly, utterly surprised at what she had just said. She smiled and shook her head.

"You heard me. I have fallen in Lo...Lo...Lo...You know." Chizuru had tried to say it, but she couldn't. Knowing that she actually wanted him to say it first. To admit it first. He must have guess that.

"In love with me. Is that what you are saying. That you are in love with me...Like I am in love with you." Kazuya said and Chizuru nodded. Then drew herself closer to him. Gazing right into his eyes.

"I...I am going to kiss you. Please do not faint or do what you did when I fake kissed you before." Chizuru told him and before he could say anything. She pressed her lips onto his for a very light kiss. Then she parted a few seconds later and smiled. She had liked it and she could tell he did as well. Though he did look like he was about to have a Heart Attack. So before he could fall over or faint. She kissed him again. This time longer and more passionate.

"Oh that is so wonderful to see." Chizuru heard her Grandmother say. She parted again and Kazuya and she looked over to see her Grandmother standing just outside the Cafe door smiling broadly at them. "Oh don't let me interrupt. Kiss as much as you want." Sayuri said gleefully and the two blushed slightly. Seventeen minutes later Nagomi arrived and the two were forced to go with the two Grandmothers to celebrate.

Plans and Discussions:

Back at her Apartment, Chizuru led Kazuya inside and had him sit within the middle of the room on a cushion. She then joined him and sat across from him. She could easily tell that he was in a somewhat daze over what had occurred that day. "First and foremost...You are to end whatever it is that you have with Ruka. We are now together and we are engaged. Also I want you to know...I am no longer going to be a Rental Girlfriend." He looked at her confused. "I can't do that anymore...I would feel like I am cheating on you." She was not about to tell him that for the past couple of months she had problems being with her other Clients because she felt like she was cheating on him. Even though they were not even together yet. It was a not so subtle feeling that kept plaguing her constantly when she was with other Clients. Making it harder and harder for her to keep up the Charade or Façade of being a Rental Girlfriend. Only when she was with him did it feel right. As if she was his Real Girlfriend and did not have to pretend to be one.

"But I thought...Are you sure you can afford to?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru smiled.

"Yes. If nothing else my Acting Manager has offered me a Job as her Assistant. I probably will take the offer. Though it does not pay as much as working as a Rental and I might have to readjust my budget a lot. But I should be alright." Chizuru looked about her Apartment and wondered if she could actually make it work. Kazuya paled and began to sweat again.

"Uhm...I might have a suggestion." Kazuya said and she looked at him curiously. "There is a one bedroom Apartment for rent on the first floor...We could...Move in together?" He had to force himself to make that suggestion. She slowly smiled.

"Sounds like a good idea...Let's do that." As Chizuru said that, she noticed the shocked expression on his face. "Why not? We are engaged after all and at some point we will be living together...So why not do that sooner rather then later."

"That would mean that...We will be sharing...We would be in the same bed." Kazuya said his voice low and Chizuru could almost swear that he looked like he was about to faint. She smiled.

"Yes. We would." Chizuru blushed slightly at that idea. Kazuya paled immensely. Almost imagining what that implied and he was unsure if he was ready to do that yet with her. Sure he had thought about it and even had some really perverse dreams involving her and him in bed together. Or several other locations. But to come to the realization that they would be together in bed. Came close to causing him to have a panic attack. No longer paling, he blushed a deep shade of red. She tenderly touched his right forearm. "Take it easy Kazuya...eventually we would be soon...I am just as nervous and anxious as you are about the prospect of us...doing that." She told him and he visibly relaxed.

"You know I am a...Virgin?" Kazuya chocked out the last and most crucial word. Chizuru smiled at him.

"I am too and we do not have to rush into anything we both are not ready for...but I want you to know that...at some point we are going to...especially now that we are engaged and are together." Chizuru said soothingly and thought about it. She had in the past had some really explicit dreams and for a time the one in her dreams was an unknown figure. Then a few months ago the unknown figure had turned into Kazuya. She had even thought about him when she masturbated more and more often. That memory made her blush. They spent a few more hours and right before he left to go to his Apartment. She kissed him again. He stood within her arms and her within his for several moments before he was about to leave. He swallowed again and took a deep breath.

"Good night Chizuru. I..I love...you." Kazuya whispered to her and Chizuru slowly smiled. Then kissed him again. Extremely tempted to instead of letting him leave, to take him over to her Futon. But she suspected that it was too soon. She took several breaths and looked into his eyes.

"Good night Kazuya...I lo...love...you too" With that Chizuru let him go and after the door closed. Really regretted that she did let him leave. Knowing tonight she probably would end up having another really intense and explicit dreams about him again. Or the ones she really enjoyed that involved her in a Gown and him in a Tuxedo. With them both at a certain Ceremony. Though she did have some where she was in a Shiromuku Kimono and him in a Iro-Montsuki Kimono. Though she had no idea why she dreamed of them wearing those Kimono's. Because from the age of 12 she had envisioned that when she did get Married. She wanted a Western Type of Ceremony that had her wearing a White Bridal Gown and him to wear a Tuxedo. Thinking about that she went over to her Nightstand and removed a notebook from within. On the Cover was written in big bold letters. MY WEDDING. Inside it had a lot of notations and pictures of possible Wedding Gowns and other ideas of what she wanted when she did Marry. On the last page was her name combined with Kazuya's. From Chizuru Kinoshita to that of Chizuru Mizuhara Kinoshita. She smiled as she looked at the name combination. Then put the book back into her Nightstand.

In the Morning Kazuya awoke and sat up on his Futon. Then he sighed. "Okay...It had to be just a dream. There is no way..." His statement ended when someone was first buzzing his doorbell and then began to knock on his door. He tentatively got up and went to the door. When he opened it he gasped as he saw who it was. It was Chizuru and she was wearing a robe over her Pajamas.

"Out of Coffee. Need Coffee." Chizuru said as she passed him and entered his Apartment. He was utterly stupefied up to the point she gave him a small kiss. "Good Morning...Kaz...Darling. Do you have Coffee?" She asked him and he stared at her wide eyed. She looked at him curiously.

"Do...Do you mean...that was real? We are a couple and we are engaged?" Kazuya asked her and she now looked at him with concern.

"Uhm...Yeah we are. Hey are you alright?" Chizuru asked back, holding her left hand up so he could see the ring and he stared at it for a second. He came out of his daze and headed for the Kitchen to make Coffee. She watched him and shook her head with a small smile. "I had to fall in love with an adorable goof." She muttered and took off her robe. As he came back with two cups, he almost stumbled over his feet when he saw her in her Pajama shorts and Shirt. The shirt was unbuttoned down to show off a good amount of her cleavage. She chuckled as she noticed that he was staring at her wide eyed. "Can I have...my Coffee?" She asked him to get him to stop just staring and standing there. He quickly nodded and set down a cup in front of her. Then sat himself. After she drank some of the stimulating hot brew. "So this being Saturday...Do you have any plans for today?" She asked him and he shook his head.

"No. I do have to go to work at 3 PM. Other then that...I really do not have anything going on." Kazuya told her and she smiled.

"Good. Because I think you need to spend some time with me. Also we should contact Miss Aiko about renting the Downstairs One Bedroom Apartment." Chizuru said and he then remembered about his suggestion that they move in together. Causing him to become extremely nervous.

A Week Later:

Leaning heavily back against Kazuya in her Apartment, Chizuru discovered something she had been missing in her life. Him. She had found it extremely comforting to have him be with her. What she had discovered after spending so much time with him was that she was lonely and having him around drove that feeling away. It was also wonderful to have someone that she could count on. The pounding of his heart seemed almost lethargic and soothing. Closing her eyes she inhaled softly. Then made a decision. "Kazuya...I think...no I want...you are spending the night." She told him and then felt and heard his heart begin to pound even harder. She looked over at him and noticed that he had paled immensely. His eyes dilated and he began to hyperventilate. She chuckled and leaned closer to him. Kissing him. Standing she reached down and took his hand. Drawing him up and then led him towards her futon.

"Uhm...Chizuru...It is only 6 PM. That is a little earlier to go to...Sleep." Kazuya gasped out and Chizuru smiled at him.

"Who said anything about us sleeping yet." Chizuru said and he really began to completely panic as she pushed him onto her Futon and then joined him.

The End?