Playing With Ice

Chapter 2: Hidden Motives

Ritsu felt uncomfortable, his parents left him and his newly betrothed girl alone in the garden.

Sara had a nice personality, she immediately got ahold of his parent's trust without so much of a fuss, his father, especially his mother were very fond of her.

So now, they left them alone in the garden.

"Ano… " Ritsu started. He didn't know how to start a conversation.

"Can I call you Ritsu? " She heard him ask.

He sighed. "Well… "

"I'll take that as a yes. " She said. "In return, you can call me Sara too, since we're engaged. "

"Um, are you sure about this engagement? " He asked.

She looked at him in bewilderment. "Of course, why did you ask? "

Ritsu blushed. "It's just that… you're too successful, and I'm just an ordinary editor… "

"What does it have to do with our engagement? "

"Well, I think you deserve better than me… " He said and he wanted to slap himself, he shouldn't be degrading of himself, besides, she wasn't a bad person.

So why is he dissuading her to marry him?

Sara then stared at him, her turquoise eyes probing.

"Are you in love with someone else? " She asked.

Ritsu then stared at her, and her eyes just looked to lovely that he felt the lies that about to form in his mouth started to dissolve and he spoke without thinking.

"Yes. " He replied then clamped his mouth.

She narrowed his eyes. "I heard you were engaged before, and I can tell that Kohinata san is serious about you, I can tell it from her eyes. It came as a surprise when she suddenly broke her engagement to you, which meant that you're not in love with her, so I'm thinking if there's a third party involved. "

"H-how did you know about An chan? " Ritsu asked in surprise.

Sara halfsmiled. "She's a classmate of mine in France, and we're friends, fact is, I found out about your family from her. And please don't change the subject, Ritsu. I'm not done yet, so tell me, is there a third party involved? "

He looked away. "You're getting personal. "

"I have every right to, you and I are engaged. "

"Look, if you're not contented with this arrangement, you are free to break the engagement – "

"I won't, unless you gave me a contentious reason why. "

He sighed. Lady Hanazono was right, her daughter is so much of a headstrong gal.

"I'm in love with someone else. "

Sara didn't look fazed by the reason. She just stared at Ritsu.

"I… I was in love with this person since… junior high." He said as he looked away. "You're a lovely lady and successful one to boot, I can tell, but I'm afraid that I couldn't return your love… "

To his surprise, he heard her laugh.

Abashed, Ritsu looked at her, Sara was holding her stomach and still laughing loudly.

"W-what's so funny!? " He exclaimed in frustration. This woman is strange.

She stopped laughing and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry, it's just that… I find the whole thing amusing. "

"What's so amusing about me telling you I'm in love with someone else? Aren't you mad at me for rejecting you? "

She fixed herself and looked at him seriously.

"You cannot get rid of me because of that. "

"I' m not lying! "

"I know you're not. "

"Then why are you – "

He stopped when she put a finger on his lips.

"You're throwing me away without even trying me? Aren't you such a degrader of optimism? "

He looked away, but she put her hands on his cheeks and made him look at him.

"Why can't you give me a chance to show my love, Ritsu? " She asked tenderly as she stared at him with her dazzling eyes. "Let me prove to you how much I really really love you. "

"You just met me and you suddenly say that you love me? "

She smiled mysteriously. "I don't think so, I can tell you that you and I met before… long ago."

He looked at her. "How can you say such things? "

"Because I know it's true. " She said as she released him. "Besides, aren't you happy with this? I'm letting you go dilly dallying with the one you love while still you're engaged to me. "

"It's not fair! " He hissed in outrage. "How can you let this happen upon yourself? Are you saying that you don't care that I'm playing with someone else while you're devoted to me? Don't you have any pride on yourself at all? "

She bent her head. "No… I left it in the dumpsters a long time ago. "

Ritsu bit his lip. "Why are you doing this? You hardly know me. "

"That is correct. " She said as she faced him. "But I wanted you. I love you, proclaiming to me that you're in love with someone else won't deter my love for you, I won't give up on you easily, that's final, so get used to it, my innocent and pure hearted little prince. "

He sighed. "You're so stubborn. "

"Talk about yourself. "

"Look, Sara, if you don't release me, you'll get hurt… you're a beautiful woman, with your charm, there are a lot of men that will fight over you, why settle for me? "

"Dissuading me again? Ritsu sama, let me tell you that if I want something, I go after it, needless to say, hell freezes over before I give up. "

Ritsu shook his head. "You're the craziest woman I've ever met. "

Sara smiled. "And you're the most brutally honest guy I've ever met. "

He glanced at her. "You still want this engagement? "

"Yes. "

He closed his eyes. "I… I don't want to hurt anyone… "

"I will handle it if the occasion arises. "

He breathed. It's not his fault, yet he still feel guilty.

He didn't want to hurt anyone, that is true, but still… she wanted to be with him.

Is that even possible?

Sara smiled. "Ritsu, please let me… I won't disgrace you… I promise… " She replied.

For some reason, he found himself agreeing to her request.

After that, the dreary tension disappeared in a snap. He found himself enjoying talking to Sara about anything under the sun, from their studies, to their family, to their lives, most of the time, they talked about books. She was obviously a likable person and an easygoing girl, no wonder his parents liked her immediately. Evidently, Sara is an avid reader and she knew a lot about Japanese authors.

"My favourite is Akihiko Usami. " She said suddenly. "I even have his books shipped from here to London.

Ritsu grinned. "I know, I was his editor before. "

"For real? Gosh, that's amazing! I love all of his books, but my favourite is the book that titled What happens when you close the doughnut hole. I love that. "

"Me too. " He said. After their talk and her brave confession, everything seemed to get back to normal, he loved talking to her. He felt like he can pour his heart out at her.

She was about to speak when they heard footsteps, and when they both looked up, they both found their parents smiling.

"So are the new couples doing? " Rika asked excitedly.

"We're doing well, Lady Onodera. " Sara replied as she bowed. "I enjoyed talking a lot of things with your son. "

Rika laughed. "You can all me mother, sweetheart. "

Ritsu blushed. "Mom! "

Eriko giggled. "We hope we can stay, however, we have to go. " She said as she ushered Sara. "Come my dear, we have to go. "

Sara nodded as she quickly held Ritsu's hand.

"I really enjoyed your company. " She said and to his surprise, she kissed his hands. "I look forward to meeting you again. " She said in finality as she went towards her mother, and both of them bid them goodbye.

When the Hanazonos were out of sight, Rika immediately nudged her son.

"Isn't she something, Ritsu? " She said excitedly. "That girl was obviously smitten with you. Don't let her slip from your fingers, she certainly is a gem. "

Ritsu blushed, then he felt his father tap his shoulder.

"I was right to choose her for you. " He said seriously. "She is the perfect foil for you, and I have a feeling that she will give you the strength that you need, Ritsu. She'll be a perfect foundation for your personality. "

Ritsu just nodded, she really is something, but something in his heart felt uncomfortable, he didn't know why or how, but he just knew.

"Anyway, I'm going home. " He said as he brushed of his feelings of unease.

"What are you talking about? You are home. " Rika stated. "And it's almost midnight, Ritsu. "

"I'm going home to my apartment, mom. " He replied.

"Nonsense, Ritsu, you should stay here for the night. " Atsushi commanded with authority.

Uh oh, his dad is giving him the look. Well, he can stay, besides, it's only for one night.

Eriko stared at her daughter inside the car.

"Sara, please don't tell me that you chose Onodera kun to exact your revenge, he's a really nice man. " She begged her daughter.

Sara looked at her mother with a pained expression. "I never said that. I love him that's why I chose him. "

Eriko tightened her expression. "Everytime you do something, it always have a purpose, please, daughter dearest, you shouldn't use him as your chess piece. "

"I told you, I'm not! " She protested.

"You can't lie to me. I can see it. "

Sara clenched her fist. " I'm not like that, and maybe I do have a purpose, but I love him, mom, please trust me on that. "

Eriko closed her eyes. "I hope and pray that you're telling the truth. "

Sara held her mother's hands. "You may hate me in the end, but please trust me… "

Ritsu settled on his bed, and suddenly, he remembered his phone.

Getting up, he quickly rummaged his back and flipped his phone, to his surprise, he has fifty messages and 40 missed calls, all from Takano san.

He then opened one message and read it.

"Oi, idiot, where are you? "

He rolled his eyes as he read another message.

"Onodera, why aren't you home yet? Where did you go? "

God, this guy is worse than his mother.

"Come home, Ritsu… and I'll make you some dinner."

He sighed as he read another one.

"Oi, I'm starting to get worried, come on, where are you? "

He read another one.

"Just tell me where you are. I'll find you, I promise. "

He blushed.

He read more messages which kept on asking him where in the world he is.

He then decided to type a message, but…

He ruffled his hair. It's not like he felt guilty for making him worry, he'll just call him to let him know that he's safe and he's okay.

He stopped.

How the hell will he say that he was engaged to another one again?

His knees buckled and he found himself crouching on the floor.

He didn't want to hurt him, he tried to dissuade his betrothed, but she wouldn't give up either.

He scratched his head. When did things suddenly get so complicated?

Before he can call, his phone rang again. This time, he answered it.

"Uh, hello? "

Ritsu immediately pushed his phone away from his ear when he heard his boss growl loudly on the other line.

"Oi, where have you been? I've been calling you for the past 4 hours and sending you goddamn messages! Where the fuck are you!?"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! My dad called me and invited me to have dinner with him! " He answered.

"That was a long dinner, 4 hours tops? " He heard him ask suspiciously.

"Why, can't I enjoy a personal time with my family? " He hissed, then his eyes widened.

"Ano… I'm sorry. " He said immediately. He didn't mean to bring family issues with his boss. He had come from a broken family.

"It's fine. " He heard him say.

Ritsu sighed. "I'm sorry if I didn't call, but I promise I'll be back at my apartment tomorrow morning, so don't worry. "

He heard him breathe a sigh of relief which sent his heart into beating frenzy.

"I'll wait for you. " He said.

"Thank you, bye… "

"Bye… "

Ritsu then put his phone away and closed his eyes.

He didn't want this, in fact, he wanted to get away from this complicated mess.

I wish he'll never find out about this… Ritsu said internally as he looked at his huge window. The clouds were dark, no stars seemed to be apparent tonight.

"I never wanted to get married… " He said as he clenched his fists. He never wanted to get involved with Sara, and yet, he found himself craving for her attention.

It's as if she hypnotized his mind.

He shook his head. He was already in love with someone. He shouldn't get involved with someone else, he and Takano already hurt each other, once is enough, both of them will enver handle it if he lets another break up.

He had to get away from Sara and fast. Because if he doesn't, he will surely stray away from his boss.

And that's the last thing that he'll ever do.

"Sara sama, here are the files that you've been asked me to get. "

Sara smiled at her trusted butler, Hikaru.

"Thank you. " She said as she read the files. "So this is him, Masamune Takano? "

"Hai. He was formerly known as Masamune Saga, but when his parents got divorced and his mother remarried, he had his family name changed. "

"I see. "

Hikaru's face became serious. "He was the junior high student that Onodera sama got infatuated with. "

Sara tightened her hold on the papers in her hand.

"And they became lovers for a short time. "

"I know. "

Hikaru closed her eyes. "I also found out that Takano san former father is not his real one, turns out, he was a son out of wedlock. Do you want me to find out who his real father is? " She asked as she opened her eyes.

Sara uncrossed her legs and stood up, then walked towards the ice centerpiece in her room.

"That won't be necessary. " She replied as she took a cup from above the counter and threw its contents on the ice structure; a hazy mist suddenly emerged, making the place a little bit blurry.

A menacing smile suddenly formed on Sara's lips as she saw the mist get heavier.

"Get ready, Takano… for I'm going to give you a taste of personal hell… " She said as her turquoise eyes glinted in mischief. She then took some ice crystals from below the frozen structure and then threw it in the air.

"By taking away your most precious jewel in the world! " She thundered and laughed as the ice crystals tumbled and then slammed on the floor and broke into shards.

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