~ Author's Note ~
D.T: *peeks in from behind a black curtain* So we're starting already huh . . . . . Welcome to the (highly-awaited) 21st chapter of POL! Today, our guest host, and a very good friend of mine who's stuck with me since my beginning stages of POL, FEDE-194! *crowd throws bouquets at Fede*
Fede: Thanks, thanks, ^/^ *embarrassed*.. I love you too much XDDD
Kana: Hello, Fede-san! *hugs* How do you do?
Fede: Fine, thank you. *hugs back*
Rikuo: Glad to meet you, Fede-san. *shakes hands* *whispers* You're one of my favorite reviewers.
Fede: O-Oh r-really? O/O I-I..., y-you... "collapses"
Tsurara: Hi, sweetie! *kisses Fede on the cheek* Thank you so much for coming here!
Fede: *recovers from fainting *, Oh boy, you are so kind, thank you very much for inviting me
Kubinashi: :) Good day to you, young lady. *kisses hand* Would you like something to drink?
Fede: No-no, thanks Kubi, I'm trying hard not to faint again.
D.T: Fede darling! Please give the folks a disclaimer!
Fede: D:T doesn't own NuraMago, if she was, the protagonist would be Kana. And thank you to OniKuShita for favoriting and following!
Rikuo: And before I forget, special note to 'Princess' *evil smirk* Stop saying such things or I will PERSONALLY. MAKE. YOUR. LIFE. HELL.
Tsurara: *blinks in confusion*
Kubinashi: ?
Kana: *looks away*
Fede: eh?
D.T: *sweatdropping at the awkward atmosphere* A-Alright then! Before things get too messy, let's exit and enjoy the chapter folks!
Fede: Right, let's enjoy all of this chapter ^^
Ch. 21 – Confessions
"Still haven't given up on the past, have you?" Ao snapped out of his reverie with alarm ringing in his ears, almost fell off his chair and dropped the photo he'd been staring at. Kuro, as stoic as ever, bent down and picked up the group photo of 11 years ago, a memory of the time when he and Ao had still been members of the Ryojin; a famous biker gang of Saitama. That was the time before they'd been "saved" by Rikuo Nura and even though the two had sworn not to reveal anything about their past lives to anyone; things you harbored so much love for could not be easily forgotten.
Ao grunted, picking up his heavy body from the floor and snatched the photo from Kuro, annoyed and embarrassed at being caught. As he carefully proceeded to slip the photo in a discreet place behind a recent photo frame of him and Kuro with their beloved Rikuo-sama, Kuro commented, "You know, for all those muscles and scary façade you adopt, your heart is as soft as a schoolgirl's."
"Shut up." Ao grumbled, rolling his eyes. His eyes trailed towards the closed door of his room, hoping that giant Tsuchi wasn't eavesdropping on them or something. For your enemy to know your weakness was a fatal shot that he could not afford. Dropping his voice to a low whisper, the brunet asked, "Are you sure we did the right thing to let . . . you know . . ." he rolled his eyes again, "her . . .come stay here? You know what she tried to do three years ago . . ."
"She did notdo it." Kuro interrupted, immediately shutting up his best friend. "We don't have concrete support that she was involved in that scandal, Ao. We only have probable theories and a very unreliable witness." Ao recognized that tone of his friend's; Kuro only adopted it when he was saying something on very dangerously important matters. "So until we don't get the evidence we need, she did not do it."
"But still," the brunet could not resist pressing on, excitement evident in his voice "Do you really think it was possible for Tamazuki to alone pull a stunt like that? Besides he and . . . and . . . that womanwere pretty close when they were young."
Kuro sighed as he rubbed his forehead; clearly not wanting to speak on the matter more. "Just forget about it now, Ao. We'll discuss it later. Right now, we gotta hurry and take Rikuo-sama to CCD." A mischievous glint flickered in the black-haired male's eyes. "It's time for his second date."
Ao grinned and whistled, casually putting his hands behind his head. "Rikuo-sama's sure got a pretty young muse. She's kinda cute with that . . . that . . . you know" the bulky man wasn't really good at describing females ". . . cozy kind of feeling about her. Don't you think?"
"Well, she is cute" stated Kuro skeptically "But I think she's a little too . . . delicate. Like a budding flower. And delicate people aren't really good matches for the life Rikuo-sama leads."
Ao got a mischievous smirk on. "So what – you like femme fatales more? Like Tsura-chan?"
Kuro got his 'thinking face' on. "Well, she istough fish to bait and a really exquisite beauty but I don't want danger on that levelwith my women. Someone tougher than Ienaga-san but less dangerous than Tsurara. You could say," Kuro shrugged "I like my women plain."
Ao sighed. "You're no fun."
Kuro got a tick-mark on his head and said, "Sorry, Ao, but I already have a high octane life. I don't want a high octane girl to misbalance it. So now, if you're done talking about girls, could we go before Rikuo-sama hacks us?" And with that, the black-haired bi-shounen strutted off.
Ao just shrugged, following his partner. "Look who's talking." he muttered.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Keikain tower stood towering over the plush residential colony of Ninapan in uptown Hokkaido. The enormous, 28-storeyed building was rivaled by only two towers in the entirety of Hokkaido; the Nura & Sons and the Kiyojuji Company's headquarters. The three families together formed the "Holy Triumvirate" of Hokkaido.
Yura Keikain, dressed in a light-blue summer dress that reached her ankles and 2-inch red heels on, walked into the Family Conference room of the Keikain tower. She was immediately greeted by her seated cousins, Mamiru and Pato Keikain and anxiously-walking around brother, Ryuuji.
"Yura-nee-chan," Mamiru kissed her right hand, a ghost of a smile tracing his usually inexpressive face "It's good to see you back after so many years."
"Yura-nee-nee!" Pato, the youngest cousin at 14, ran up from his comfortable sofa and hugged the slightly taller woman. "Missed you a lot!"
"You've grown up, Pato" the woman replied, smiling calmly and rubbing the boy's head lovingly, who was currently snuggling into her. "Did you get taller, Mamiru?" she asked, staring at the 6'2' tall man.
Mamiru nodded, the faint smile (surprisingly) still present. "I think so."
On the other end of the room, Ryuuji was talking in fierce whispers with someone over his Android phone. "Well hurry up for once, would you? She's already here! I don't wanna keep her waiting! I don't give a fuck about your blazer! Just come-" he was stopped cold by a small hand on his shoulder and the line was cut off.
"It was father, wasn't it?" asked Yura, to which Ryuuji hesitantly nodded. The woman sighed, running her fingers through her sleek black bob. "Careless as always, isn't he?"
Ryuuji nodded fiercely in agreement. "Sorry, onee-san," he said in a disgruntled voice "I reminded that old slacker about today's meeting many times but he still forgot! Don't worry though," his voice softened "He will be here within half an hour." His barely audible "I hope." at the end of the sentence went unnoticed.
The Conference room consisted of an oak table of medium length, with four chairs on the adjacent sides and a single chair on the extreme right, for the Head. Sitting on the chair which was just beside the Head's, Yura tapped a thick folder on the table and said in a serious voice, "I think we should start discussing our plans before the elders arrive."
"As you wish, onee-san." the three boys chorused and seated themselves. Ryuuji sat facing Yura with Mamiru beside him while Pato sat beside Yura, facing Mamiru. The young Pato, though not used to such meetings and quite hyperactive, was unusually calm and somber and had even restrained from swinging his legs (which was quite an ardent, bad habit of his). This just showed how much Yura Keikain was feared and respected, even among her close family members.
"Yura-nee-chan," Mamiru was the first one to speak, placing a scarlet envelop, with the Nura and Sons insignia, on the oak table. "This is a letter written by Rikuo Nura for you." Ryuuji raised a condescending eyebrow while Pato threw the tall man a confused gaze. During such meetings, the Keikain family usually dealt with the most important matters first. Undeterred by his cousins' gazes, Mamiru continued, "It was given to me by one of Rikuo Nura's important subordinates. He called it a 'significant message' from Rikuo-san for you."
Yura, who had remained placid till now, got an animated glimmer in her eyes from Mamiru's last sentence. "A significant message?" she asked, her tone disbelieving and curious at the same time as she reached out a neatly manicured hand for the letter. Mamiru gently placed it in her hand and Yura started opening the envelop, slightly tearing it in her haste. The black-haired woman was a lot more patient and calmer in her mid-twenties than in her teens but in some matters, you couldn't get a proper hold on yourself as much as you wanted to. And getting a letter from your first boyfriend who hadn't spoken to you in half a dozen years and now sent you an 'important letter', clearly qualified in a list of such matters.
Though her gaze was calm and cool as she opened the pale blue folded letter, inside, her heart threatened to thump out of her ribcage. It wasn't as if Yura was still in love with Rikuo (how could she be, after 9 years?) but a letter from him seriously wasn't something you got on casual terms.
Dear Yura
How many years has it been since we last met each other? Three, four? But when I heard you were back in Japan after such a long time, I just couldn't resist the temptation to meet you. I clearly know that my company is not welcomed by you – or your family, for that matter – but I would be very much obliged if we could meet somewhere. I know of a really lovely café called 'Dimanche' beside the Hello Kitty themed store in the Utakata region. If we could meet there at 11: 00 a.m this Wednesday, we could 'catch up on' important matters as well.
P.S: Besides, I heard their fried-eggs-and-rice dish isdelectable.
P.S.S: I hope your 'scary' brothers won't accompany you.
Your 'loving friend'
Rikuo
This was undeniably Rikuo's handwriting. Yura could identify that fancy calligraphy anytime and anywhere. Putting the letter back in its stylish envelop, she sighed and muttered, "It's an invitation from Rikuo for a meeting on Wednesday." Ryuuji opened his mouth to say something but Yura cut him off, "I'll go. Alone."His mouth immediately shut up. No one could argue with the heir to the Keikain family.
"Are you convinced about it?" Mamiru asked, eyes flickering from the envelope to Yura's face. "You know the Nuras. They're manipulative tricksters, ready to play any card to get what they desire. I don't trust them and going there alone may put your safety in jeopardy."
Yura shook her head. "The Nuras are bold and clever, yes, but they aren't so foolish as to harm me in broad daylight." A small smirk inhabited her face. "Besides, I don't plan to go there alone. Roku will come with me."
"Whoa!" Pato exclaimed in delightful surprise. "They are here as well? But we got no news of their arrival!"
"They are the 'Legendary Five' after all." muttered Ryuuji. "Yura-nee-chan's personal entourage. No one knows where they come from or when they leave."
"So you're adamant about going." Mamiru muttered to which Yura merely nodded.
"By the way, Ryuuji," the black-haired woman turned to her younger brother, who sat up rod-straight from his slacking position, "I heard that Rikuo Nura's 'alleged new muse' is in your College." The black-haired male stiffened. "I want some information about her."
"Well," he spoke with detachment and a high sense of dislike "Her name's Kana Ienaga. Plain girl-"
"She looked pretty cute in the papers" Pato stated from behind only to be shot an annoyed glare by Ryuuji.
"-but her parents are pretty wealthy, both of them lawyers of international standing. She is a quiet girl, really, doesn't seek too much attention. But she's pretty intelligent, one of the college toppers. A goody-two-shoes, that girl." He shrugged. "Don't know why Rikuo Nura would take such a sudden interest in her."
"Except for one thing," Mamiru butted in and Ryuuji stiffened again, noticing his sister's piqued expression. "Last month, she was supposedly held hostage by some terrorists who were in our college during Rihyon Nura's lecture. However, Rikuo Nura and his bodyguards saved her before it became too much of a hullabaloo. And since then, both are supposedly seeing each other."
"Does the whole school know about that hostage situation?" Yura queried.
Mamiru shook his head. "No, only the Nuras, Kana Ienaga, her friends and the Principal do. But I got the information from our Vice-principal," the boy seemed to faintly cringe at her mention, "through means." Of course, Ryuuji knew what 'means' his cousin meant and grimaced at the memory.
"Hmm," Yura got a thoughtful expression on her face. "I want you to keep tabs on her, Ryuuji." The man nodded, though he seemed a little displeased with her order. "Mamiru," she turned to her other brother, her eyes getting a cold glint in them "What's the status on Tamazuki?" Pato hid his smirk behind his hand.
"He's been unusually inactive," Mamiru replied and Yura raised a questioning eyebrow. "No major parties, no scams, no flings . . . It's as if he's almost disappeared from the media world."
"That guy gets more and more suspicious," Yura muttered in an inaudible voice. Then, aloud, she said, "Continue keeping tabs on him, Mamiru. The bear will have to eventually leave its cave."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Excuse me!" Kana squealed, rushing across the road as the driver of a speeding Sedan yelled at her. Her heart had started beating abnormally fast at the close encounter and her stomach churned up bad feelings at an alarming rate. However, by now, she'd had pretty close brush-offs with danger to get scared of a mere speeding car and adjusting her large handbag, she continued walking towards CCD Café, her white strappy heels making faint click-clacks against the concrete ground.
A lovely breeze blew in Hokkaido and dressed in a pastel pink sundress matched with a short, white denim jacket, Kana rushed hurriedly towards the large CCD Café that stood just before her eyes. Walking up the marble steps, she was surprised to see the place as lively and bustling as ever with people casually hanging out but then deduced that Rikuo must've come in disguise. And she was right, for as soon as she entered, she felt something small and sharp hit her elbow.
Turning towards the direction of the hit, Kana saw a man with extremely shaggy blonde hair and dark Aviators sitting by the window, seemingly staring out at the bustling market place. However, she saw his index finger gesture her to come towards him and following her cue, she sat down on the chair opposite to him, feeling a thousand times more comfortable in this bustling café than at the solitary bar last night.
"Good morning, Ri-" she managed to hold her tongue in time, casting a wary glance around the place. A waiter made his way towards their table and after ordering for black coffee and an iced cappuccino, Kana asked in a low, somewhat nervous voice "So, you wanted to talk?"
"Yes," Rikuo said, adjusting his Aviators and black waistcoat. "I'm sorry about yesterday." Kana blinked in surprise at the sudden statement. "I know I scared you," her cheeks heated up in embarrassment, "but I don't trust Kyuso Raimon too much. And with his henchmen all over the bar, there wasn't a safer place to talk than in the lair of the rat himself." The brunette's eyes slightly widened at the bitter words Rikuo spouted (with his voice still calm) but decided not to say anything about it.
"So what was it you actually wanted to talk about?" the young brunette persisted, taking a sip of her cappuccino. The lovely smell of fried sausages and chocolate cookies floated into the air and Kana's stomach grumbled, fortunately inaudibly.
Rikuo's eyes returned to the bustling Hokkaido markets again, his gaze wistful and reminiscent. A gentle breeze floated in through the open windows, lightly ruffling his hair and for a short moment, Kana was mesmerized by the scene and could only gape at him, her eyes not once leaving his face. It was only after the Nura heir turned to face her that she snapped out of her reverie and stiffened. Oh Kami . . . hope he didn't catch me staring!
"Please be honest when you answer my question, Kana-chan." he whispered, a smirk inhabiting his face. The brunette nodded. "Do you have a lover?"
"E-Eh? That question again?" she blurted, face blooming into a deep scarlet. Her sudden exclamation made the nearby people stare at her and Kana saw two men on a nearby table, chuckling (who disturbingly resembled the Nura heir's bodyguards). However, the red-eyed man remained stony-faced and if Kana could see through his Aviators, she could've sworn his eyes were solemn. Slowly, she shook her head, wondering whether she should regret the fact or not.
A grateful smile blossomed on his face. "Thank God." Kana immediately snapped her attention towards him in bewilderment, eyes blinking confusedly. Then, Rikuo gently took her hand and whispered, "Come with me." Kana felt a jolt of electricity pass to her as she stood up on her shaky knees, face flushing with embarrassment. It was kinda annoying, actually. Couldn't she NOT blush for even 1 minute while around him?
As they walked out, Rikuo let go of the brunette's hand and disappointment immediately overcame her. She blindly tried to reach out for his palm but with quickened steps, the Nura heir rushed up the marble stairs to the Café's rooftop. Kana slowly followed suit, craving his touch again. Feeling her cheeks heat up, she immediately slapped both of them, hoping for the heat to go away. Gah! It's not working!
Rikuo, turning back to see Kana taking her time to climb up, quickly dialed a number on his phone. "It's time." he whispered, a smirk plastered on his face.
Panting, the 20-year old finally reached the terrace, cheeks flushed due to exhaustion. "R-Rikuo-san?" she called out, eyes darting around for him. She saw him standing near the edge of the terrace, hands stuffed inside his pockets. At her call, he turned towards her and with a mysterious smile playing on his lips, pointed to the sky with an index finger.
At the same moment, a large shadow fell on Kana. Slowly turning her head up at the once sunny sky, her brown orbs were greeted with the sight of a large aircraft, with the Nura & Sons insignia on it. Deciding against her question of why it was so important, Kana decided to honor his request and continued staring.
Before realizing it was writing some sort of message.
"Will . . . you," she read slowly, trying to carve each of the words in her mind "do . . . me . . . the . . . honor," her eyes widened with each word, "of . . . being . . ." her voice started shaking "my . . . ."
But before she could read the last word, something inevitable happened.
She fainted due to shock.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the message in the sky slowly faded, people (who'd been staring), resumed their daily activities, gossiping about the "lucky person" who just got proposed. Middle-aged ladies giggled about young love as they went on their weekly shopping trips and high school girls gushed about wanting a boyfriend who'd do something extraordinarily romantic for them like that.
But not everyone was happy.
"I . . . I can't . . . I can't," she shook in the seat of her Porsche, tears streaming down her face. "He . . . he . . . he just . . . ."
"Calm down, Tsurara," her companion mumbled, rubbing her arms soothingly. "It could be a joke. You know he likes to-"
"IT'S NOT A JOKE, GOZU!" she burst out in anger, slapping the black-haired man's hands away. The shabby-haired journalist's eyes momentarily filled with fear before regaining their sharp look. "I-It's not a joke," Tsurara shook terribly, tears falling down in unrestrained torrents down her pale cheeks. "H-He likes her, Gozu . . . he likes her . . . more than me . . ."
"Tsurara," the male softly whispered, embracing his shivering friend. As the girl wailed into his chest, he softly stroked her hair, whispering sweet words to comfort her. But it seemed to have no effect. The gorgeous model was utterly heartbroken.
"Calm down, Tsurara; calm down. I'll get rid of that Ienaga girl for you, okay?" he lovingly patted her head. "I'll get rid of her for you."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The poll is over. You guys know who the winner is. ;)
For the dense people who don't it's . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE CHARISMATIC GOZU! :3
Also, we have a vote on the main antagonist by s.m cuteKana.
Main Antagonist:
Rihan Nura – 1 (s.m cuteKana)
Answer will be declared in the future~!