Yee haw! Another chapter in just another day! I'm so good...
Disclaimer: Paradise Kiss is property of Yazawa Ai and not me. Sorry, you can't sue me. Besides, I'm broke.
Strings
by Boomerang Butterfly
Chapter 3
"Mood"
It was merely out of habit that Yukari woke up at seven in the morning. She never really needed an alarm clock, and since she usually had some kind of shoot or business to attend to early, she woke up early so she'd be fully prepared. It was Tuesday, and this Tuesday, she had planned, on a very organized and strategically accurate calendar, to go to the baker's and finalize which flavor of wedding cake she wanted. She had planned, on that calendar, to wake up at her bodily set time of seven o'clock in the morning. And she had planned to leave her near empty apartment at around eight, to be at the bakers at eight thirty, and thus beat out the mid morning to late afternoon crowd that usually showed up. she had planned all of this weeks ahead of time, so everything-the cake, the flowers, the location-would all be perfect for her wedding, which, on this Tuesday, would be in a week and four days later.
Or, would've been.
Yukari was not getting married any longer. She wasn't going to wake up at seven o'clock in the morning this Tuesday and get ready to leave her near empty apartment at eight, to be there at eight thirty, so she could finalize which flavor of wedding cake she wanted. She wasn't going to even need a wedding cake. Or flowers. Or even a location.
Therefore, it wasn't much a surprise that she woke up at eleven o'clock that Tuesday morning instead of seven. Four hours of much needed sleep and she still felt like she needed four more. Stretching out on the futon and squinting her eyes in the semi bright sunlight of the room she currently occupied, Yukari debated whether to get up to relieve herself, or stay in bed for another couple of hours. She decided on the latter when her bladder protested and stumbled out of bed toward the one bathroom.
It was painted the wildest shade of red, with black towels and an old fashioned bathtub in the corner. The last time she'd used this bathroom it had been rather plain and ordinary and not much to look at. Apparently, Arashi had gotten bit by the interior decorating bug sometime ago and gave the bathroom a complete and interesting makeover. She used the toilet and closed her eyes to the bright light, wondering where she was going to get a toothbrush and underwear, considering that she hadn't showered since two nights before. It seemed as though her sudden roommate had thought of all that before she had woken up and there was a brand new toothbrush, along side a used one that was Arashi's, and a note by the mouthwash.
She brushed her teeth and read what the note said, smiling just a little at how terrible Arashi's handwriting was and how grammatically incorrect.
"Yukari,
Figured you'd need a toothbrush, so went out this mornin' and got cha one at the convietnts store…um…if ya need me or anything, call meh cell. There's some money on my dresser for any…personal stuff ya mite want.
Okay, see ya round five?
Arashi."
Yukari finished brushing her teeth (how'd he know she liked the medium bristles?) and ran water in the tub for a good soak. He'd said last night before bed that she could use any of his clothes, so she went hunting once her bath water was done.
Arashi's room was almost just the way she'd remembered. Franz Ferdinand posters on the wall, along with other bands; his guitars ( he'd accumulated three) in the corner by the window; his bed still in the exact same spot; a CD player on the dresser, where she spotted the yen she'd need for undies, or as he'd put it, "personal stuff." She'd probably have to hand wash the undies she had until she was dressed and ready to go to the store.
He must've known, then, that I'm in no mood to get my things from Hiro's.
It was incredibly sweet and thoughtful of him, even while he was as mixed up and hurt as she was, to think about her feelings. Arashi had always been a reliable friend, but she didn't realize the extent until these past two days. With another small smile, Yukari scrounged his closet for something she could put on and went to take her bath.
Black and white plaid pants. Red sweater. Black and white checkered vest. Her boots. Hair in a high pony tail. Pants tucked into the boots were an added touch. And then, the coat. The coat she'd left her apartment with, the one she'd worn for two days now, didn't match her current outfit (it was blue) but Arashi had one in his closet that did. It was black leather, and had an eagle on the back, several zippers and chains, and looked absolutely Arashi that she could help but giggle as she put it on.
Slipping her shades on as she left the apartment, she took her keys and the extra key he'd left beside the money with her. First rule of business was getting her car. It was still parked at the apartment complex, and in her car was her purse, along with her credit cards and most of her cash. She'd go buy some personal things, along with a few outfits, until she was comfortable getting her belongings from Hiro's place. She wasn't exactly sure how long that would be, but decided to prepare for at least a month and deduced about how much yen she would need for clothes for a while.
The walk down the street to the train station was fairly peaceful. She focused her attention on what she wanted to buy, fashion wise, and kept her mind off Hiro and Miwako and the wedding that wasn't. She'd have to wait and go back through all her wedding plans and cancel them, sending apologies to the invitees, etc. Yukari was just barely dealing with what she was going through now; there was no need to put salt on the wound. It would be easier, anyway, to have help, and she was sure Arashi wouldn't mind.
Yukari, now on the train, wrapped Arashi's jacket about her frame a little tighter and snuggled in to how warm it was. She wondered briefly if Miwako had ever worn this jacket, but shook the thought away just as quickly as it had come. Before she had a chance to think of anything else depressing, she noticed a group of three high school girls glancing her way every so often and whispering. Deciding that maybe they recognized who she was, she gave a tentative smile and was rewarded with hushed squeals. Seconds later, the little group had come from across the train to over where she sat, and were standing above her looking rather nervous.
"Can I help you?" Yukari asked, breaking the silence. Almost simultaneously, the three girls squealed and then thrust a magazine in her face. "Hayasaka-san, can we have you autograph?" the tallest one managed to squeak out. She was a pretty girl, stunning really, with wavy cinnamon hair and large brown eyes. As Yukari took the magazine and the pen, she glanced over at the girl's companions-a shorter, but rather pretty girl, with long black hair and full lips, and an average height one, cute, with short brown hair, pink glasses, and a heart shaped face. "What's your name?" Yukari directed to the tallest girl. She flipped her cinnamon hair away from her face and smiled brightly. "Harikuri." Yukari then turned her attention to the other two, who in turn gave their names also. "Saia, Hayasaka-san," pink glasses said breathlessly, and then it was the short one's turn. "Mayuri," she said softly, and Yukari suspected she was the shyest of the three. She smiled at her especially and was rewarded with an even bigger smile, though she still insisted on looking down at her feet. "Do you have anything you want signed, Saia-chan, Mayuri-chan? This is probably Harikuri-chan's magazine, hmm?" The three nodded and Saia and Mayuri looked at the books and papers they held desperately for something to have signed.
"How about our school bags?" Mayuri asked as softly as before. Saia's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. "Ohhh, Yuri-chan! Why didn't I think of that!" she exclaimed. "But what are we gonna use to sign? Pen won't show!" Harikuri rolled her eyes at her friends and dug around in her bag for a permanent marker. "Here, use this," she said authoritively and Yukari guessed that she must be the leader of the little clique. She signed the bags and the girls all squealed a loud thank you, before heading back to their seats, and finding them full. "Awww, our seats are taken!" Saia said, pouting. "Well, we did kinda leave without marking them," Mayuri said thoughtfully, but Harikuri just scoffed. "Whatever. Marking or no marking, they were still our seats." She rolled her eyes again and placed her hand on her hip, flipping her hair again and taking a stick of bubble gum out her pocket. Yukari couldn't help but giggle a little at the girl's antics. If she only knew…
"What exactly are you three doing on a train this time of day, anyway?" Yukari asked, already guessing that they were skipping school, but wanting to see if they would tell the truth. "Well…." Harikuri began, "Glay's downtown signing CD's at the music store and we heard they were giving a free concert so…" "Oh," Yukari said, nodding. "I see. So you skipped school to go to a Glay signing." They nodded enthusiastically. "I understand. But why didn't you just wear your regular clothes, and not your uniform? Anyone can tell your high schoolers, and Seiei girls at that." the three looked at each other then at their uniforms, then back at Yukari, shrugging. "Well, we couldn't tell our parents where we were going," Saia said. "They think were at school." "But we're not gonna get caught, Hayasaka-san," Mayuri said. "We've got alibis." Yukari just smiled and nodded, crossing her hands and glancing between the girls. "Alright, but just don't do this too often, okay?" they all nodded briskly and giggled, talking amongst themselves and sometimes to her about silly girlish things, like boy bands and cell phones.
Yukari stared out the window, nodding and giving a 'hmm' every now and then, thinking back to when things had been that simple.
If only it was that simple now…
Arashi was scanning some documents at the accounting firm he worked for when Shinka the secretary, his cynical, sarcastic, but incredibly funny co-worker, poked her head in the door and called for him. "Nagase, boss wants ya." Arashi frowned and set the papers down. "Does this have somthin' to do wit meh hair, Shinka?" he asked, running his fingers through his blond locks that were currently subdued into a ponytail. Shinka shook her head and sighed, a weary expression on her face that just could not be good news. "Nah, Arashi," she said quietly, "I don't think so."
Arashi shoved his hands in his pants pockets and walked out the copy room, down the hall with Shinka behind him. She knocked on his bosses' door and when Kidoshi-san answered, opened it for him. "Good luck, kid," she whispered and when he'd walked inside, closed it behind him.
"Nagase, come in, son. There's something important you and I have to talk about."
Arashi swallowed the lump in his throat and tried ignoring the glum look on his superior's face, then sitting in the facing chair.
Her car was exactly where she'd left it, in the parking lot of the apartment complex. She took off her shades and stared at the car, a black Lexus SC 430, and jingled her keys that lay in jacket pocket, then pressed the unlock button and the ignition button to start the car. The closer she got, the more her good mood had begun slipping away.
Hiro had bought that car for her.
It was brand new, an engagement present of sorts that he had just bought two months ago. Still had the new car smell, and everything. Once reaching the door Yukari paused opening it and leaned against the car, closing her eyes and remembering when she'd first saw it.
"Hiro…you didn't!" she exclaimed, staring wide eyed and unbelieving at the Lexus with the big red bow on top. He nodded and handed her the key, laughing and scooping her into a hug when she took it. There were tears in her eyes as she looked up at him and she smiled. "Love you, Yukari," he said and pressed his lips to her forehead. "I love you too," she whispered softly and snuggled into him.
The present day Yukari didn't realize she was crying until she pulled away from the car and looked at herself in the window. Had he meant that he loved her, or had it just been all a lie? Did he just buy her that car to allay the guilt he felt for seeing Miwako behind her back? She shook her head and scowled at herself in the reflection, wiping her eyes roughly and slipping her shades back on, then ducked into the car and closed the door, taking a moment to look at herself in the mirror before driving off.
She was not going shopping looking like this.
Turning the radio on to distract herself, she dug around in her purse to see how much cash she had on hand. Maybe she wouldn't have to go the ATM after all, and she could give Arashi his money back. Just then, her hand brushed up against her cell phone and speeding down the free way, she took it out and began glancing at her messages.
"The agency, the agency, Carol for Clinique, Lise from Chanel…the agency…Jinosuke?"
Jinosuke was her accountant, the one who kept count of her expenses and how much money she had. He never called her cell, and rarely ever called period, so what could be up? She selected the number and decided to call back, and as it rang, she found herself singing along to the song on the radio. "Hello?" "Jinosuke? This is Yukari. You called me this morning?" "Um…yeah. About that, Yukari…you might wanna come down to the office for this." "Wassup?" she asked, getting a little worried. "I'd better tell you here, and not while you're on the road, okay?" Yukari agreed to meet him at the firm and disconnected, hoping everything was okay, but by the sound in his voice, she had a feeling it wasn't.
She set her phone down on the passenger seat, and took the exit that would take her to the accounting firm instead of the mall.
Yes, another chapter! Oooo and a cliffie to boot! Wonder what's up with Yukari's finances, and Arashi's job? Find out next chapter. Do read and review, kay?
