Ai Yori Aoshi – Koi
Welcome to Chapter 5! This chapter is just going to be a touch deeper and will resolve some concerns a lot of you had from previous chapters. Also, you're going to learn something interesting about Taeko, so enjoy! Oh, I found out the Professor's name from Enishi…it's Itsuki…but my professor is Itzuki, so it works.
Chapter 5 – Swim Meet
The first Saturday after Christmas was cold and snowy. Chika woke suddenly and glanced at her alarm clock. A full fifteen minutes before it would go off. 5:00 in the morning and Chika was wide awake. And in her own bed. She was pleased to see that she'd been able to stay in her own room rather than go to Kaoru's room.
"Onii-chan's got a lot to worry about right now." Chika said. She began to stretch out and loosen her muscles for the day ahead. After making sure she had all her gear for swimming, she went to the house for some breakfast. She didn't want to eat anything heavy, but knew she'd need her strength. She found the dining room light on and, peering in, saw Taeko sitting at a laptop computer.
"Taeko?" Chika asked. "Why are you up?"
"Chika-chan!" Taeko cried and scrambled to hide the computer. "I-I couldn't sleep so I-well I-…"
Chika had peeked around the older girl's shoulder and saw the screen. Before being snatched away, Chika saw:
On Earth, On Heaven, On Time
Minizuki Taeko
"Taeko, are you writing a book?" Chika asked.
"Chika-chan, it's not nice to pry into other people's business." Taeko said. Chika continued to stare at her knowingly and Taeko sighed. "But yes, I am writing a book."
"I didn't know you liked to write?" Chika exclaimed. "Can I read it?"
"Maybe later on." Taeko said. "I want to write a bit more before I let anyone proofread it. I'd hoped to ask Hana…Honjo-senpai, but I don't know if I can now." Taeko's face fell into a sad frown.
"He'd still love to read it, Taeko." Chika assured her. "Maybe he doesn't love you like you love him, but he's still the Onii-chan we all know."
Taeko smiled at the younger girl. Quietly, she saved her work and closed the computer to begin her job as the housekeeper. She made Chika a light breakfast of rice, fish and fruit and began to prepare the rest of the houses' breakfast. The first person down was Tina, who dashed out the door, grabbing a piece of toast on the way to work. Tina could not get away from work before noon, but promised to get to the swim meet in time for the finals. Taeko, Aoi and Kaoru would be watching the whole day.
Kaoru came into the dining room, looking nervously for Taeko. Taeko glanced at him and smiled shyly in greeting, but didn't quite meet his eyes.
"Ohayo, Taeko-chan!" Kaoru said. "Um, did you sleep well?"
"I slept just fine, thank you for asking." Taeko said and hurried into the kitchen. Kaoru sighed. He needed to talk to her, but wasn't sure what to say. It never occurred to him that all these girls would develop a crush on him somehow. He sat down heavily in a chair just as Miyabi came in.
"Miyabi-san, you don't have a crush on me too, do you?" Kaoru said. He was only half-joking. He never the older woman better than that.
"Kaoru-dono, my feelings for you perhaps might be love." Miyabi said, a merry twinkle in her eyes, "But I assure you that it is an affectionate love."
Kaoru grinned back at the woman, but couldn't help but feel uncertain of what he would do for these girls.
"Mayu concerns me too." Kaoru thought. "I don't want to believe she'd do something, but I can' help but worry."
The phone rang and Miyabi left to answer it. Aoi and Taeko came in with the breakfast. Chika, who'd already eaten, left to make a quick bento for the afternoon. Aoi started to sit down beside Kaoru, but moved to a seat across from him. Kaoru understood her actions. Taeko was feeling hurt and there was no reason to add to the pain. Taeko herself, sat at the far end of the table. She ate absentmindedly, but seemed to be thinking of something besides her meal. Miyabi returned to the dining room and looked at Kaoru.
"Kaoru-dono, there is an Itzuki Raina on the phone for you." Miyabi said, cocking an eye at him curiously. "She said you met the other day at the college?"
"Oh, really?" Kaoru said in surprise. "I'll take the call. Excuse me a moment."
Kaoru picked up the extension.
"Hai, Itzuki-san?" Kaoru answered.
"Hanabishi-san." Raina's voice came back. "Oh, pardon me, I mean Honjo-san. My mother informed me you'd changed your name. I was wondering if you had some time to talk. It's a rather serious concern to you."
"I have some time now." Kaoru said. "What is it?"
"Not on the phone, I'm afraid." Raina said. "I'd like to speak with you in person."
"I'm afraid I'll be gone today." Kaoru said. "A friend of mine is having a swim meet."
"Honjo-san, this is extremely important." Raina said. "I won't take much time. I could even meet with you at your house, if you'd prefer. So your fiancée won't become worried."
"How do you know that?" Kaoru said, becoming alarmed. "Just who the hell are you?"
"I hope that I am a friend, Honjo-san." Raina said. "Will you meet with me?"
Kaoru looked back at the dining room where Aoi sat. Kaoru didn't want to put her in danger, but he knew he'd be better able to handle this on his own ground.
"Come within the next hour." Kaoru said. "I'll meet with you."
Raina hung up and sighed. She'd heard about Kaoru's admission at the meeting after the fact, of course, and was convinced the young man was not a threat. But she'd also be at the bar where Mayu Miyuki had met up with her other target, Hanabishi Kanaye.
Flashback
"So, Hanabishi-sama is marrying this wicked woman." Mayu said in a drunken sob. "And I'm left with nothing."
She slammed the glass down hard. "I've been in love with Hanabishi-sama since I was little. And the engagement was broken fairly. That Aoi-busu just snatched him back without any thought to where Kaoru might really want to live his life. And with who."
Her companion had listened quietly and without any expression. He touched Mayu's hand and she looked at him. He seemed so concerned about her.
"I know how you feel." Kanaye said. "I lost someone I loved for the exact same reason. She just couldn't let go of the past."
"I don't know what to do." Mayu sighed.
"I think there's a way we can help each other." Kanaye said with a smile. "And get our loves back."
End
She hadn't heard a lot of the details, but enough to realize that Kaoru and his new fiancée were in trouble. She only hoped that she could protect them and keep the Hanabishi Company under observation.
Kaoru paced nervously in the living room. He'd explained the situation to Aoi and Chika and apologized to them.
"I'll get there as soon as I can." Kaoru had said. "But I want to know what this Raina is up to."
"Would you like me to stay with you?" Aoi asked softly. Kaoru shook his head.
"You go on and cheer for Chika-chan." Kaoru said. "I'll make it there."
Kaoru glanced over at the clock on the mantel. 10:30 and no sign of Raina yet.
"I wonder what she wants."
The doorbell rang and Kaoru hurried to the door. He opened it and was met with the sharp eyes of Raina.
"Douzo." Kaoru said.
"Thank you." Raina replied. "I won't keep you any longer than necessary."
She turned to face him, holding out a badge. Kaoru blinked in surprise. She was a detective?
"I'm Detective Itzuki." Raina said in an official voice. "I'm here investigating the Hanabishi Corporation…and you."
Kaoru felt his blood grow still and his heart hammer painfully.
"I'm not part of the Hanabishi family anymore." Kaoru said flatly.
"I'm aware of that." Raina said. "Don't worry. You aren't in any trouble, but my superiors feel that you could be a great deal of help to us."
"I don't want anything more to do with that name or that house." Kaoru said.
"I understand. But you have to understand my position. Someone in the Hanabishi family is using their corporate power to supply weapons to other countries, we fear even to the Middle East."
Kaoru did not turn, but the implication wasn't lost to him.
"Are you thinking that my grandfather is the one?" Kaoru asked.
"I honestly can't say." Raina said. "My superiors have a great many suspects, including a young man from the Hanabishi house named Kanaye."
Kaoru did turn at this. Another young man?
"I don't remember anyone by that name." Kaoru said in surprise. "Who is this Kanaye?"
"I don't know exactly who he is." Raina said. "He's been a spokesman on behalf of the family for a couple of years and seems to be about your age, if not a little younger. I don't know anything more than that."
Kaoru's mind was spinning. He sat down on the couch to collect his thoughts.
"What do you think I can do for you?"
"At this point, we're asking you to keep your eyes open and pay close attention to the Sakuraba's, but also particular attention to a woman name Miyuki Mayu." Raina said.
"What?" Kaoru shouted. "I know that girl. She was here the other night. She spoke out of place to Aoi-chan and I sent her away. What's Mayu got to do with this?"
"Maybe nothing. Maybe everything." Raina said. "I don't know anything more than what I've already told you. But I will say this much. If this other Hanabishi man is indeed the new head of the family, then he's probably the one the Sakuraba's were trying to arrange a marriage with."
Kaoru's eyes widened in alarm.
"Is he dangerous?" Kaoru asked.
Raina was silent, but Kaoru knew the answer. Hanabishi Kanaye was very dangerous and Kaoru felt a fear for Aoi that he could not explain.
"I have to go to the swim meet." Kaoru said. "I need to see Aoi-chan."
Aoi and Taeko sat together on the bottom row of the bleachers as Chika prepared for the next race. Aoi felt so nervous and wanted to say something to Taeko.
"Aoi-san." Taeko said suddenly. "You don't need to be so uneasy around me. I understand what happened and why. I don't blame you. Please don't worry about that."
Aoi looked at Taeko. She was nervously toying with the material of her jeans. She looked up at Aoi and smiled.
"I'm more afraid of how I can face Honjo-senpai." Taeko said. "I did care about him very much, but I'm sure he won't stop caring for me just because of this. I worry that I've embarrassed him though."
Taeko felt Aoi squeeze her hands in a kind gesture and she looked up.
"Kaoru-sama cares for everyone." Aoi said. "He could never be embarrassed by someone returning his kind feelings. Everyone deserves to have such kind feelings be given and shown. Kaoru-sama will always care for you because you care for him."
Taeko's eyes filled with tears and she smiled warmly.
"Arigatou, Aoi-san." Taeko said and wiped her eyes. "I'm going to get something to drink. Would you like something?"
"Sure, water would be fine." Aoi said and Taeko left.
"That was very nice, what you said to her," said a voice from behind her. Aoi looked around to see a pale face with dark eyes smiling at her. Aoi felt an unexplainable sense of alarm in her mind, but dismissed it.
"Arigatou gozaimasu." Aoi said politely. "Are you here to encourage someone?"
"I have a nephew in one of the races. He hasn't gone on yet, but I like swim competitions. There's just something…natural about man and water being together."
He extended an arm out gracefully and gave a sweeping motion as if cutting through water.
"It's like being with a woman." he said and Aoi felt both entranced and fearful as he lowered his voice to a soft purr. "You move slowly but with sure strokes. You don't slap at the water, but pull yourself against it and allow it to embrace and uphold you."
Aoi felt her cheeks turn red and looked away. She felt an unreasonable shame at hearing a man say such things. It was almost…seductive.
"But the water can suddenly become a storm and throw you wildly around. You can't control it, but you can master yourself and bend the water to your will."
Aoi stood up in alarm and backed away from the man. What happened next was a blur of motion and sound. Aoi heard Kaoru call her name and as she looked, she lost her balance and plunged into the pool.
Kaoru gave an alarmed shout and surged forward but the pressing bodies of the curious onlookers stopped him. He saw a dark haired figured dive in after her and, after a seemingly eternal wait, he broke through the water's surface with Aoi in his arms. He climbed out of the pool and laid Aoi on the hard floor. Kaoru pressed through to check on her.
"Aoi-chan!" Kaoru exclaimed. "Are you alright? Answer me?!"
Aoi's face had gone white and she wasn't breathing. Kaoru looked up to see her rescuer. A young man with pale skin and dark eyes gazed steadily back at him. Kaoru heard faintly Raina behind him and was pushed away.
"She needs mouth-to-mouth." Raina said and followed through on her words. After a moment, Aoi coughed up the water and lay shivering on the floor. Kaoru threw his arms around her in relief.
"Thank God." Kaoru said. "I thought I would lose you."
"What happened?" Aoi said weakly. She glanced around for the frightening man. Raina found a towel to wrap Aoi in and asked if there was a change of clothes available.
"Someone saved you." Kaoru said. He looked up to express his thanks but the man had disappeared. "Where'd he go?"
Raina helped Aoi to her feet and Taeko, who had just returned, gave Aoi a drink of water. Then both women led Aoi off with a teacher for a change of clothes. Chika came hurrying over from the platforms while the staff secured the poolside and lane dividers.
"Is Aoi-neechan alright?" Chika said tearfully. "I saw her fall over and was afraid she'd hit her head."
"She's alright, Chika-chan." Kaoru said softly. "You'd better finish up your race. Do your best, okay?"
Chika nodded and returned to her position. A few minutes later, Aoi returned wearing a pair of shorts and jacket belonging to a staff member. Kaoru couldn't help but stare as Aoi looked nervous about her bare legs. Kaoru sat close to Aoi with Taeko on her other side. As Taeko glanced at Kaoru, she saw him smile at her and she knew he really did care a great deal about all of them.
"Honjo-senpai." Taeko said. "I have a favor to ask you. If you have the time, would you mind reading something for me?"
Kaoru glanced at her and smiled.
"Sure, be glad to." Kaoru said. "What is it?"
Taeko shook her head in a "wait and see" gesture and focused on her little cousin.
Chika did her best to focus her mind again on her remaining races. As she took position for the final race, she let her mind empty of everything but the lane before her. The pistol cracked off and she dove into the water. She pulled her arms gracefully over her head and matched stroke for stroke of her competition. But Chika was like a fish and gave her legs a strong kick to push through. When the time came, she pushed off the wall with all her might and let her arms pull out strong. In the end, Minizuki Chika took second place against an upperclassman. Chika smiled happily. She knew that next year, she'd take first.
"Hey, Minizuki-san." Chika turned to see the upperclassman she'd come in behind. "Great race. It was really close. Less than half a length between us. Looking forward to seeing you next year."
Chika smiled and joined the rest of her family in the bleachers. Tina had made it in time for the final race and had been cheering nonstop. There were cheers of joy and congratulations for Chika.
"Let's go out and celebrate!" Tina crowed. "Dinner and karaoke!"
"Tina-san, I think I'm going to go home." Aoi said. "I want to get my clothes washed so I can return this to the teacher."
"I'll go with you Aoi-chan." Kaoru said. Aoi shook her head.
"I'll be fine. Please go enjoy yourself." she said.
"No, Honjo-senpai, you should go home with Aoi-san." Taeko said and Tina gave him a small push toward Aoi.
"Kaoru needs to practice taking care of you." Tina said. "Might as well start now."
The girls left and Aoi and Kaoru hailed a taxi to take them home.
"I didn't think you would try to drown her!" Mayu said. "I thought we'd just scare her."
"I want her back!" Kanaye snapped. "You think I intended for her to fall in the pool? Honjo stole her from me and everything I would have had by marrying her."
Mayu stared in shock. "She was the love you were talking about that got taken?"
"Bright girl." Kanaye sneered and caught her arms. "It'd be even smarter if you shut up and let my plan go ahead."
Mayu narrowed her eyes but nodded. She wanted her favorite boy back and trusted in Kanaye's plan. She would do anything to get Kaoru back. Anything.
"What do we need to do?" Mayu asked.
"The first thing we need to do?" Kanaye said and he let his fingers trace up her arms. "The first thing we need to do is get to know each other a little better. How else can we call this a partnership?"
Mayu shuddered as his lips descended on hers. She would do anything.
To Be Continued.
Oooohhh, is this getting interesting! I'm debating whether I want this to get a little steamy the next chapter, but I want to keep it a T rating. So, no lemon for this story, but probably some moments with a light lime. Who knows. But Kanaye and Mayu are definitely a force to be reckoned with. So, keep reading. I've tapped my mind out for now, I think, so chapter 6 will be a little while yet. Thanks for the reviews. I save them all.
Stay cool minna! From here on in, this will be fun!