Ai Yori Aoshi – Koi
By RoseFire
Chapter 7 – Drive
The term "spring fever" never made more sense to Kaoru as he shifted uncomfortably at the table. The meeting was taking an incredibly long time. He only hoped they could not hear his rumbling stomach.
"In conclusion, ladies and gentleman, it is my recommendation that we merge our north and east branches of the company with Yomiuri Stores." finished the Sakuraba representative. Kaoru blinked twice in concern. He glanced down at his charts and frowned.
"Thank you Takayori-san." Miyabi said. "Are there any questions?" Kaoru cleared his throat and stood.
"I have one concern." Kaoru said. "From all indications, it would appear this merging would be beneficial for us. In the past year, Yomiuri has grown exponentially in marketing, but store sales, they've been slowly declining for five years.
"Honjo-san, I understand you want to contribute to this meeting, but you should really learn a bit more." said Takayori. Kaoru felt his face redden but caught a glance of an older gentleman with a kindly smile and mischievous twinkle.
"Ken, let the young man speak." said the older man.
"Sakuraba-sama," Takayori said, "I fail to see how this will contribute to the meeting. All of us are hungry and wish to go home."
"Ken," the older Sakuraba said, "I was getting ready to order in while you were talking. A few more minutes will not make that large a difference. What is your concern, Honjo-san?"
Kaoru stood up. He was no longer worried about his stomach being too loud; he felt quite certain his heart was overpowering it.
"If you follow along the year, the sales have been steady, but let me show you the last five years." He pulled up the graphs on his computer and turned it around so everyone could see the projection.
"The last five years, Yomiuri has been declining in sales by twenty percent each year." Kaoru explained. "The decline has gone unnoticed because it's so gradual, but there is a concern that if we combine our branches with this pattern, we stand to lose about forty percent of our own sales."
Murmurs of surprise and amazement filled the room. Takayori stared aghast at the readout.
"How could I have missed that?" Takayori said in disbelief. Kaoru scratched his head nervously.
"I happen to have a friend who shops through Yomiuri and mentioned a few weeks ago how it wasn't as populated anymore. The region of those stores is populated more by older citizens and middle class families.
"Then why does your friend shop there?" Takayori retorted. Kaoru tried to look casual.
"She's rather…well-endowed." he said quietly. "Very few stores will….see to her needs."
Miyabi swallowed a chuckle, but Kaoru was encouraged. A few of the other ladies also gave soft laughs of understanding. Kaoru was sure they were all mothers as well.
"What do you recommend we do, Honjo-san?" the older Sakuraba asked. Kaoru took a deep breath and glanced at his notes.
"Instead of merging those branches, I recommend we buy out those stores. If the sales continue to decline as they are, we stand a much better chance with closing the stores and reopening them under new management. It will also allow for an employee boost and a gradual shift of sales."
"But what about those employees now." another woman said. "We don't want to be responsible for laying off workers."
"We can employ them." Kaoru said. "They know the store and the district customers and can be an asset to us."
"I like your thinking, Honjo-san." older Sakuraba said. "Takayori, thank you for your research, but I agree with Honjo-san. This direction of thinking is exactly what we need."
Takayori bowed slightly. Kaoru caught his eye and Takayori, though he still looked sour and annoyed, gave a twitch of his mouth which Kaoru took to be a smile. Kaoru bowed as well.
"Well done, ladies and gentleman." Mr. Sakuraba said. "With that, let's head home for supper. Takayori, stop by my office tomorrow at ten. We'll put Honjo-san's plan into action. Honjo-san, can you wait a moment."
Kaoru nodded.
"Kaoru –sama, I shall wait for you." Miyabi said.
"No need, Kagurazaki-san." Sakuraba said. "I'll see to it Honjo-san gets home."
Kaoru followed the older man as he slowly moved down the hall to his office.
"You made quite a first impression on Takayori, Honjo-san."
Kaoru gave a nervous chuckle. Was he in trouble?
"Don't worry, Takayori needed the humbling. He's been the cooperation's poster boy for about a decade now. Seems to me we need the fresh blood you're bringing us."
"Arigatou, sir." Kaoru said. The old man entered the office and indicated Kaoru should sit down.
"So, you're engaged to my granddaughter."
Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise. Aoi's grandfather?
"Don't be concerned, my boy. I couldn't ask for a finer young man for my granddaughter."
"I consider myself the lucky one, sir."
"That you should." Mr. Sakuraba. He picked up a silver frame on his desk and Kaoru watched his eyes blink back tears.
"I lost my dear wife many years ago." he said. "Not a day goes by that I do not miss her or remember how lucky I was to have her in my life."
"Aoi-chan told me how close she was to her grandmother." Kaoru said.
"Her family did not approve of me, anymore than your grandfather approved of your mother." Mr. Sakuraba said. Kaoru lowered his eyes.
"Your grandfather is a fool." Mr. Sakuraba said. "I'm just glad that you escaped becoming like him."
Aoi looked up at the clock. Kaoru was not home yet, but had called Aoi with instructions to wear the Western style dress she'd gotten for her last birthday and wait up for him, saying he had a surprise. Aoi could not have imagined the surprise until she heard it purring up the driveway of the house. Aoi's face lit up. Kaoru sat behind the wheel of a gray blue 1967 Dodge Charger. He was dressed in his normal clothes
"Kaoru-sama!" Aoi cried out. "Where did you get that?"
"A pre-wedding gift from your ojiisan, if you can believe that." Kaoru said. "Get in!"
Aoi gave a squeal of delight and climbed in. Kaoru put the car in gear and they took off into the evening. Kaoru hadn't done a lot of driving, but did very well. Aoi looked out the window, letting the warm spring air fill her senses. Kaoru reached over and laced his fingers with hers. Aoi smiled back at him and she leaned against his arm. The drove in comforting silence for awhile before Aoi spoke.
"Kaoru-sama, could we go someplace quiet?" she asked in a very soft voice. "Someplace to be alone?"
Raina slammed the phone on the receiver and stepped out on the balcony of her hotel. She'd been on the phone with her partner on the force and been given discouraging news. Well, more discouraging for Kaoru and Aoi.
"And I was actually hoping I was wrong." Raina muttered to herself. To pulled out her cell phone and dialed.
"Sakuraba residence." Miyabi answered.
"It's me." Raina said. "Can you meet me at all? It's important."
"Give me twenty minutes and I'll be at your hotel." Miyabi answered.
Raina hung up and made another call.
"It's Itzuki." she said. "I know it's late, but this is important. We've got our target."
Twenty minutes later, Miyabi arrived and met Raina in the hotel bar. She sat down at her table and ordered a drink.
"Another rum and coke." Raina said. Miyabi took note of the three glasses beside her.
"They don't make them strong and I've got a high tolerance." Raina said.
"What did you find out?" Miyabi asked.
"Hanabishi Kanaye is our guy." Raina said. "And the story behind him is the sickest I've ever heard. And I've been a detective for three years."
"Who is he?"
Raina took a long drink of her glass and sighed.
"He's Kaoru's half brother." Raina said. "Same father, different mother. And his mother is Hanabishi Suzuno, Kaoru's aunt."
Miyabi stared in shock. The waiter returned with their drinks.
"Sorry, but I think I'm going to need something stronger." Miyabi said.
Mayu paced nervously outside the concert hall. Her performance that night had been a success, but she was disappointed that she had no one to invite. Even her "partner" had not come. But she hadn't expected him to. After her concert, she'd gotten a message saying that she should wait outside for ride to come for her. But instead of Kanaye in his blood-red Mazda, a blue-gray car stopped at the light and Mayu heard a familiar but unwelcome voice call her name.
"Mayu-san?" It was Aoi and Kaoru.
To Be Continued…
Okay, this was very short, but I've got it all mapped out. Next chapter, we learn the truth about Kanaye and who he is, and what he's planned. Also, you obviously must see where there is a spot for a lemon. Should I write it? Stay tuned. Chapter 8 is up next!
Stay cool minna! From here on in, this will be fun!