RECAP: The story has flashbacked to two years ago when Akira and Soujiroh had a bender in Paris. They attended an art auction where Soujiroh saw art that he really liked. A well-known art manager took credit for art work that belonged to a young artist.
Chapter 4 A Knight to Forget
On their way to their next destination, Akira attempted to assess Soujiroh's interests. "Did you really mean it when you said you wanted to work with that artist? I believe your exact words were 'I'd give my right arm to work with that artist."
Soujiroh glanced at Akira thoughtfully before speaking and nodded. "Yeah, those pieces were out of this world. Granted, there were some other nice pieces that could hold their own, but they were predictable, safe, traditional. When compared with the pieces that the last artist created, they were 'blah' at best. That last artist is truly talented. It would be an honor to collaborate with him." He had a gleam in his eye at first, but then the spark faded as he bowed his head. "Ah, but who am I kidding? It's impossible now. I have already left the art world. I have nothing to offer that world, let alone that artist. That is why I'm going in a totally new direction, as a pilot for the Eitoku Space Academy. Piloting in outer space should give me some of the excitement that I'm missing from the void left by my previous artistic endeavors." He brightened slightly upon mentioning becoming a pilot.
Akira sighed. "It's not impossible. You know? And you still have a lot to offer the art world."
Soujiroh scowled, confused. "Eh, what do you mean?"
"Have you ever considered becoming a talent scout, or talent developer, or art manager? I know you don't want to teach courses like your father does, but what about teaching at Eitoku? I saw the gleam in your eyes when you saw those last three pieces and how you accurately appraised the art pieces and the artists. You were exact to the dollar at how much those pieces would sell for. Why don't you consider becoming the art director at Eitoku's academy and recruit talented artists like that last one to the school and help them realize their full potential?" Akira asked.
"Akira, you low life scum bag." Soujiroh spat out angrily.
"Eh? What's the matter?" Akira asked concerned.
Soujiroh then smiled. "If only you had said that earlier, I wouldn't have had to go through all that misery about me losing my abilities. That's perfect. I'll ask Tsukasa first thing when we get back, and that artist tomorrow when we meet for lunch."
Akira half laughed, relieved and playfully punched Soujiroh in the arm. "Idiot. We tried to tell you. You just weren't ready to hear it yet."
"Now, I'm energized. I'm looking forward to using that energy on the finest French entertainment." Soujiroh wriggled his eyebrows.
At that point the cab had arrived at its destination. "Good, because we've reached our destination." Akira gestured toward the sign plate over the entrance.
"Madame Toussaint's?" Soujiroh asked.
"Oui." Akira nodded.
"Tres bien." Soujiroh pressed his fingers together, mock kissed them, and released them. "She's the best of the best, but I hope she has plenty of talent to spare as well as some new talent to sample. Although I have some old favorites I want to sample, there is nothing like new talent to whet my appetite." He rubbed his hands together.
"Well my friend, the night is young and yours. I reserved the entire place to be at your disposal. All talent is yours." Akira winked at Soujiroh.
Soujiroh beamed. "Man, you are like no other, the best buddy, no, the best brother anyone could have." He pat him on the back as an older beautiful blonde woman dressed in a blue silk flowered kimono approached and bowed.
"Welcome Masters Nishikado and Mimisaka to our humble establishment." She looped her arms into both boys' elbows. "Tell me, what are your desires, and we will do our best to fulfill them." She led them to a center table, piled high with a pyramid of champagne glasses and a big bottle of Dom Perignon, and surrounded by dozens of beautiful young ladies all dressed in kimonos.
Soujiroh stared at all of the young ladies and smiled. "Ah, Madame Toussaint, I believe you have met all of my desires right here." He bowed and kissed her hand as he sat down.
She smiled and tossed her hair. "But of course, and you Master Mimisaka? Have your desires been met?"
Akira shook his head. "Madame Toussaint, please, if you will take care of my friend's needs, then that is all I desire, and my needs are met."
"Monsieur Mimisaka, meh no, but you must enjoy yourself while you are here." Madame Toussaint protested.
"I'll just go over to another table, have a few drinks, and sit back and enjoy the entertainment. If you'll excuse me." Akira nodded and sat down at a smaller table closer to the corner near the stage.
Soujiroh smiled. "So, every girl here, and the entire club is at my disposal?" He smiled, gazing around at all of the young ladies and his gaze rested upon a small, tanned, young lady wearing dark glasses with her hair pulled back in one braid and tied in the middle.
Madame Toussaint followed his gaze and her smile waivered slightly. "Ah yes, with the exception of that young lady over there. She is off limits. She is just a temporary employee that helps us out occasionally. She is not the type you would like anyway. She is on exclusive contract with one of our most influential customers in France."
Soujiroh arched an eyebrow, curious. "Eh? That little bitty girl over there?" He shook his head. "To each his own, I guess." Soujiroh gulped down the glass of sparkling amber liquid set in front of him in one gulp. They refilled his glass and set food in front of him. Two hours later, after a burlesque show, a meal, and a few bottles of sake, Akira was ready to leave having solved one problem.
Soujiroh was busy drinking and playing games with the two dozen or so beauties surrounding him. The madame approached Akira. "Mimisaka san, have you been satiated by our services so soon? We don't have anything else to interest you?"
Akira shook his head. He gave her a stack of currency and then a gold card. "No thank you. As usual Madame Toussaint, your services have been excellent of the finest quality. Magnifique! This should cover all of your services, and anything else please place on this card. I will transfer the funds to this card tomorrow when Monsieur Nishikado has had his fill. I really appreciate you giving us exclusive use of your establishment for the entire night."
"Meh no, but of course Monsieur Mimisaka is one of our best customers. It is no problem at all. He is such a kind and wonderful man. That is why he is one of the few customers that I would close the club for, and also one of the few customers who I would ask a favor of or entrust with such an important favor." She hinted.
"Madame Toussaint, depending upon the favor, I would be willing to do whatever I can for such an important friend like our Madame." Mimisaka agreed conditionally.
"You are staying at the Hotel Chavillier correct?" She enquired knowing already. He nodded. "Then the only thing that I would ask is that you share a taxi with my very special employee." She paused. "And since she is foreign and impaired, I would be grateful if you could take care of her and escort her to her room and see that she gets there safely. So grateful, in fact, that I would consider discounting your services here tonight by 15% and for two years to come."
Akira arched his eyebrows surprised. He considered. She must be really special for Madame to offer a discount not only for tonight but for two years. He smiled. "But of course, Cherie." He kissed her hand. "It would be my pleasure even without the discount. So it is not necessary."
"No, but I insist on the discount. Thank you. And of course, the taxi is at my expense in addition to the discount. As your taxi is here, I shall return with the young lady without wait." Madame rushed over to the young lady, whispered in her ear. The young lady stood up quickly, turned to go but stumbled over a chair. Madame Toussaint steadied her, grabbed her elbow, and escorted her over to Akira.
Oh boy. Akira thought warily. He went over to retrieve the young lady from the club owner and helped her into the waiting cab. The young lady sat in the cab in silence. She turned her face away from Akira toward the window and sniffed. Akira suspected that she was upset and tried to make small talk to distract her."I'm Akira Mimisaka. I'm visiting from Japan." He spoke in French.
She turned toward him, slightly bowed her head and turned back toward the window. She began sniffling a few moments later. Akira again tried to engage her in conversation. "I've been a customer, that is, acquainted with Madame Toussaint for ten years now, and I don't believe I have ever seen you there. Have you been there long?" He expected that this would draw her out or he would get a long explanation. Instead she simply shook her head and then turned facing the window again and sniffling.
He waited for a few minutes and then said something that he would soon regret. "You have a nice tan. It's even and complements you nicely."
She shook her head and turned to face him. "It is not a tan." She spoke softly, so softly that Akira did not even think that she had spoken at first.
What a cute voice. He thought. I'd like to hear it again. So he continued. "Oh that 's right. The Madame mentioned that you were not from around here. So France is not your home?"
"No." She shook her head and then began sniffing again and quickly turned away. He could see tears streaming down her face from underneath her dark glasses.
She must be homesick. He thought as the relief he felt at her response quickly gave way to regret. "I'm sorry. I didn't' mean to …" She shook her head and quickly dried her face. Fortunately, they had arrived at the hotel by that time. Akira was grateful. He got out and quickly went to the passenger side to open the door for the young lady. She stepped out and tripped on the curb as she alighted. Akira quickly grabbed her arm, steadying her. He escorted her across the lobby.
When they were parallel to the bar, she tugged at his jacket. He stopped and looked at her expectantly. She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm not ready to go back to my room. Can we please go to the bar?"
He looked at her clutching his jacket desperately. He nodded and escorted her into the bar. As he led her into the bar, she stumbled on the small step leading into the area where the tables were. She also bumped into one of the columns, and then finally stumbled into a chair. Akira asked concerned. "Are you sure you should have any more? You can barely walk or see straight."
She chuckled and then laughed out loud. "Uhm, was that so funny?" Akira asked.
She stopped laughing and then said somberly. "I can't see at all, or at least I can only see shadows, light, shapes and outlines. You see, I am legally blind."
"Ohhhh." Akira nodded and then thought. "But why is someone like … that is with your condition working in a place like that? I mean isn't it dangerous?"
She shook her head. "I don't work there like everyone else. I help out in the back with washing dishes, serving etc. If anyone ever sees me and asks for them Madame Toussiant tells them that I am under exclusive contract for a very important person in France. Then they tend to leave me alone. And actually, that place is the perfect place for someone like me. Most of the girls live in the dorm there, and they watch over me and protect me like a hawk."
"So nothing's ever happened? No one has ever tried to do anything to you?" Akira asked.
She nodded. "This one guy got drunk and became obsessed with having me. So, he waited until I finished working and followed me back to the dorms. Fortunately, my master was on his way to visit me and saw the guy following me and soundly took care of him. Madame Toussaint banned him from our facility and reported him to the other facilities. I never had any problems after that."
"Master? Then you really are on exclusive contract." Akira replied.
"No, it's not that kind of master. I am an apprentice. The Master is a good friend and patron of Madame Toussaint's. He arranged for me to stay there and help out with chores. He thought I would be safe there." She explained.
"What kind of apprentice are you?" Akira asked intrigued.
She shook her head and then signaled for someone to take her order. She ordered a bottle of sake and charged it to the room. When it came, she drank quickly and then poured some for Akira. "I don't want to talk about that right now. Right now, I want to forget." Then she poured and downed another drink. "Thats' why I'm here."
Akira nodded and drank. "Then can you tell me some more about yourself. Can I ask about your condition, if it is not being too personal?"
She shook her head. "Why don't we talk about you? What is bothering you?"
Akira scowled and then smiled. "What makes you think that I'm troubled?"
"You guys are on a bender, and there are only three reasons to get bent. You are celebrating something. You won't be able to meet again or partake of such entertainment again for a long while due to various circumstances, such as marriage, or military enlistment. Or you are troubled over something and came to forget about it. So, what is troubling Mimisaka san? Is it your upcoming nuptials?" She asked.
He gaped at her. "How … how did you know?"
"Well, first you rented out an entire Bordeaux and did not partake of any of the services. From what I understand from Madame Toussaint you are a regular and good customer there so it isn't that you are shy or embarrassed. And you aren't of a different … how shall I say it … persuasion. So you must be saving yourself out of respect for someone. Besides, when I mentioned the reasons for a bender, you reacted to marriage in particular." She surmised.
"You see right through me." He was amazed. Then he gasped and covered his mouth. "Oh, sorry, I forgot. How insensitive of me." He took her hand and kissed it. "Allow me to apologize for my momentary slip of the tongue."
She shook her head and gave him a slight smile. "Not at all. I'm actually flattered that you forgot. It means that you see me as a person, and not as a blind person. Thank you." She paused to take a drink. "So I guess congratulations are in order. I guess for your upcoming nuptials."
He also took a drink and then motioned for the bartender to bring another bottle, but he ordered hard liquor. He sighed.
"Or not. I take it you are not happy about getting married?" She asked cautiously. He shook his head. "Is it a shotgun marriage?" She asked.
"No, I'm too careful to let that happen. That's the kind of situation my friend would be caught up in." He chuckled. "No, it's an arranged marriage. My friends and I are known as the flower four, the F4, because our families are the top four companies in Japan, and so we are considered the four most eligible bachelors in all of Japan. Since birth almost, we have been tutored in everything from dancing to learning the languages of the richest international companies, and we have known that our spouses would be chosen for us, and that she would be from some rich family who has a strategic interest with our company. My fiancé is from a clan, no, family that has an alliance with mine." He explained.
"So, what's the problem with this girl? Is she ugly or has a bad personality or what?" She asked.
"No, she's gorgeous. I mean she has everything physically that I find attractive in a woman: long legs, hour-glass figure, porcelain skin, small face, double eye-lids, double-D's." He smiled. "And she seems to love me or at least she caters to me in every way. It's like she's made to order." Akira took another drink.
"So, what's the problem? She's attractive and caters to you." She asked.
"It's like she's made to order. I mean she actually found out what attracted me and got surgery done to look that way." He began.
"So you don't like her because she is fake? Is her plastic surgery the problem?" She tried to understand.
"No, it's not that. I think women should spend resources trying to make themselves beautiful. I don't mind. It's just I want … I don't know more. My friend, Domyouji Tsukasa, our self-proclaimed leader of the F4 fell in love with this plain girl. She's really plain, short, virtually flat-chested, not really smart, but she is hard-working, perseverant, loyal, kind, and strong, very strong. In fact, she drop-kicked Tsukasa after he had red-tagged her. At our school, we have visors to relay school information, such as where entrances are, GPS, etc. since we are an elite school and don't want unwanted visitors approaching. So, he had this guy program it to where he could enter someone's name in there and every time you see that person a target is displayed on them. He targeted her, and the whole school bullied her. After a couple of days of that, she red tagged him. Since she didn't have the same resources, she got some infra-red paint and sprayed it on him so that they would see a red mark on him when they looked through the glasses. It was great." Akira smiled reminiscing. "Anyway, they fell in love, and his mother opposed, and they went through all kinds of things to be together. I could tell you stories, but it would take hours to tell you all the things she endured, they endured to be together. "
She shrugged. "It's not like I'm going anywhere, and besides, you will have to take me to my room anyway."
"Well, if you don't mind?" He asked. She nodded. Two hours and three bottles of alcohol later, Akira had relayed Makino's and Domyouji's love story. She laughed at some places such as when Makino went on a date with Rui and forgot to activate the automated tint in the bathroom and was seen by Rui. She was horrified at all the kidnappings, beatings, and other heartbreaking events like when Domyouji got amnesia and forgot who Makino was.
"And that's what you want, a tumultuous relationship like theirs?" She asked.
"No, I want real love. I'm no longer satisfied with an arranged marriage. That's what I learned from Makino and Tsukasa. I want a relationship that can endure like theirs, and someone who is interesting and strong and not vapid. Someone who I will not be bored with." Akira explained.
"Someone like Makino?" She asked. "Or Makino herself?"
Akira looked up startled and then shook his head. "No, I wouldn't want to break up our friendship. It was painful enough when Tsukasa and Rui almost severed ties because of it."
"But you do or you have had feelings for Makino?" She asked. He didn't respond. "It's okay. Your friend Makino sounds like a really interesting person. It would be great if I could meet her or someone like her. I would like to borrow some of her strength." She took a drink and then laughed. "Who am I kidding? That won't happen. We are just Paris drinking buddies." She took another drink. "So, what else is troubling Mimisaka san?"
"It's … I don't know quite how to say this, but I feel like I am not good enough or worthy of my friends." He spoke hesitantly.
"I don't understand what you mean? You seem to me to be a very worthy friend. Who else would rent out a Bordeaux to cheer up their friend?" She told him.
He chuckled. "I didn't mention earlier, but my family's businesses are not exactly legitimate. In fact, most of the businesses are a front for some underground businesses that deal in things that are not quite legal. So, I feel like being friends with me will burden them, and I am pulling them down or that eventually I might impact them somehow. I mean. All of their businesses are respectable."
"Do they know about your family's business?" She asked.
"Well, everyone knows about it, or know about the rumors, but it's not like I have kept it secret from them." He thought.
"And yet they hang around you. Have they ever mentioned it to you or looked down upon you or treated you any different?" She asked.
"No." He shook his head.
"And the F4 leader, Domyouji's mother, she knows also?" She asked.
"Yes." He nodded.
"Then, if they haven't said anything and don't have a problem with it why are you troubled? Besides, if Domyouji's mother is so strict about the company her son keeps to go so far as to send their families to other countries and worlds, and she has let you befriend her son since birth, virtually, then she must approve of you. And if she approves of you, then you have nothing to worry about. It is not like all of her dealings are legal either from the stories you told me. Kidnapping, extortion, bribery, assault and battery, just to name a few things." She counted on her fingers.
"That's true." He thought.
"Really, if anything, your family is better than Domyouji's because you at least admit to what you are, and you guys are open and up-front about your activities. You just have not been caught by the authorities because you know how to mask it well. But Domyouji pretends to be honest and deals underhandedly. That makes her the worst. So, you shouldn't feel guilty or inferior. As long as your friends don't have a problem with it, what else matters?" She reasoned.
He nodded, took a drink, smiled, and chuckled. "Ha ha, yeah. You know. I don't know why I am telling you all of this. I've never shared this with anyone else. I've never said this to any of my friends."
She reached for his hand. "It's okay. You can tell me anything. We're just drinking buddies. We probably won't see each other ever again after this. At least, I won't see you again regardless." She waved her hand in front of her glasses.
"Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting about your … your condition." He said.
"Yeah, well, as much as we have drunk, I'll probably forget it all by tomorrow. Anyway, so what about your friend? What is troubling him so much that you have to rent an entire Bordeaux for him, or is he just lascivious?" She asked.
"No, he is lascivious, but you are right. He is also troubled. He is an artist, or he was an artist. He worked in ceramics and pottery. He was very famous and very talented. They once said that he had the 'hand of God.' But he got drunk one night because his childhood love decided to marry his brother, who had cut off all ties with the family. He felt like the two people he loved the most had betrayed him. So he went on a drunken bender and got into a fight with some punks, and they injured his hand to where he could no longer use it to create his masterpieces. Of course, he decided to give up his lucrative career, give up everything associated to art and become a pilot and pilot trainer for our buddy Tsukasa's space academy. It's a waste." Akira sighed.
"But I can understand how your friend feels and why he would give up the art world." She said quietly and then poured another drink and downed it in one shot.
"But he still has something to offer the art world as an art manager or talent scout or teacher or something. Take tonight, I took him to an art auction and he correctly evaluated each piece to the dollar and cent, and then he saw three pieces at the end that excited him. I think that artist convinced him not to give up on the art world and see that he still had something to offer as a talent scout or art manager or procurer. So, he is also kind of celebrating this realization tonight. We tried to tell him before when he first injured his hand, but he wouldn't listen. He had given up all hope."
She looked down. "I can relate to your friend giving up all hope when a disability ended his lucrative career. I know what it's like to lose everything like that and not be able to see any future or hope." She commented.
"Your eyes." He touched her face near her eyes and she pulled away. "So you weren't born blind?" He asked more cautiously.
"Yes, I was born with a congenital eye condition, but it was temporarily treatable with corrective lenses." She explained.
"Temporarily?" He asked.
"Yes, without surgery eventually my eyes would have kept deteriorating until I was blind. However, I wasn't eligible to have the surgery until I became an adult, and my eyes stopped growing and changing. So, I decided to become a scientist and go into optical research to see if I could cure my condition and help others with a similar condition. And just when I was on the point of a breakthrough, I had an 'accident.'" She used air quotes. "I was setting up the optical laser to refract through the magnifier glass when the laser fired into the glass and right into my eyes. According to the senior who was working with me, one of the safety mechanisms failed and the program fired at the programmed time. Anyway, I was blinded and was hospitalized. After several surgeries, I woke up and they took off the bandages. I couldn't see anything. So I gave up on everything. I fell into self-pity, self-loathing and depression and wouldn't eat or drink or do anything, until I met my savior. He was a former scientist turned artist. It turns out he was blinded in a car accident. A mutual acquaintance of ours who had worked with him as a scientist before he was blinded introduced him to me. He turned off the light, covered my eyes and then asked what I saw. I said nothing, but then he flashed a light, which I could see. I realized then that I could make out shadows, lights, and eventually outlines of objects and people if they have a light behind them, but I can't see faces or anything detailed. I was still wallowing in self-pity because I had no career. He told me that I could use my science in another field. He helped me find a career, a talent, a life. He worked with me until he told me that my talent surpassed his ability to teach me. So, he found me a master over here to work with. But I was reluctant to go because I had fallen in love with him. I wanted to confess to him before I left and told him I wanted to tell him something. I think he had an inkling because he told me that I needed to debut first and then I could tell him what I had to say. So, I gave up everything, came over here, and became an apprentice and developed my talent. In the meantime, I kept up rehabilitation on my eyes. Eventually, the doctor said that there was improvement, and that he may be able to restore my sight with surgery, but it was costly. Although my family is not poor, they are not super rich like yours either, and they had already expended many resources on my surgeries and rehabilitation. So, I worked extra hard to debut my talent. Once I debuted, I would be able to earn enough for my surgery and then confess to my savior."
"When is your debut?" He asked.
"Tonight. I debuted to rave reviews, but some thief stole my work and took credit for it. It's funny because before I debuted that thief looked over my work and disregarded it. When he saw the reaction to it, he decided to claim that he sponsored my work." She explained.
"How could he just claim your work? Why didn't you tell everyone that he was a fraud?" Akira asked confused.
"No one would believe me. He is very powerful here, and it's my word against his. I am unknown. He is famous. I don't think there is anything that I can do. Now, all my hard work and my money are going to him, and I can't get my surgery nor my eyesight, and I can't confess to my love. I wish I had some savior to rescue me now like then, some knight in shining armor." She put down her drink and her head as the tears began to flow. He took out his handkerchief and lifted her head and dabbed her tears. She took the handkerchief from him and nodded. "Thank you." I'm sorry. I'm not as strong as your friend Makino. I need someone to save me, to rescue me."
"Can I be your knight? Can I rescue you?" Akira asked.
She shook her head. "You? What could you do?"
Akira thought. "I don't know. I could help you fight, help you prove that it is your work. As you said, I am super rich and have many resources."
She shook her head. "Why would you that? What would you get in return?"
Akira thought. "I don't know, satisfaction knowing I rescued a damsel in distress."
She shook her head. "I couldn't ask that of you. I couldn't accept your kindness. Thank you, though."
"What are you going to do then?" He asked concerned.
"Give up. I guess. I wish your friend Makino was here. She wouldn't give up, she would fight and stand strong by herself. She could probably help me figure out what to do." She lamented.
Akira shook his head. "You're wrong. She did give up often. That's why she dated Rui, she took the money from Tsukasa's mother and moved to the junk barge where her family was, she almost ran off with Tsukasa's look alike, and she sided with Jun Pei over Tsukasa. Maybe you are too tipsy to listen to the story properly. But every time after she gave up she realized what was really important and came back fighting stronger. That's what you have to do. That's what you did when you switched from your being a scientist to your current work. And she wasn't by herself. Tsukasa was there for her in his idiotic way, and she also had us, the F3. So, why not lean on me?" He placed his hand over hers.
She sat silent for a while in deep thought. Then she took a drink and chugged it. She then slammed the empty glass on the table. "You're right. This is only a temporary setback. I'm going to fight. I'm going to find an attorney who will represent me and sue him. It's my work. I can do more and better. He may have taken credit for my work, but I can create others, and he can't take my creativity away. Even if I have to go all over Paris, all over France, all over the world, I will find someone who will take my case against that thief."
He pat her on the head. "That's the spirit. So you'll let me help you. I can give you the money to find an attorney or help you find one."
She shook her head. "I couldn't. I wouldn't be able to pay you back any time soon, and I could not let you do something like this for me, unless I could do something for you in return."
"Well, you have already done something for me. Just listening to me is enough for me. I feel as though a burden has been lifted off my shoulders after talking to you." Akira told her.
She shook her head. "No. That can't compare to what you are offering me. You are basically saving my life by helping me resolve my biggest issue. I'd have to solve your biggest problem to return to you what you are offering to me. So, how about it? If you really want to do this for me, then what can I do to solve your biggest problem?"
"Marry me." He said matter-of-factly.
"Eh?" She looked confused.
"My biggest problem is my arranged marriage. I need a wife. So, marry me." He smiled.
She shook her head. "I don't understand. I thought you wanted to marry for love, and I know you didn't fall in love with me in these past few hours. Besides, you know I have feelings for someone else."
Akira grabbed her hand and held it to his heart. "How do you know I did not fall in love with you these past few hours?" He kissed her hand, and let it go. "Sorry, I'm just kidding, but you are right. I do want true love, but my arranged marriage is supposed to occur soon, too soon. So, if I get married to you, I can postpone my marriage a little longer and have enough time to find my someone special."
"But …" She began to object.
"We can get married and then annul it after a year. Until then, I can go back and tell them that we cannot announce my engagement or set a date because I accidentally got drunk and married some girl I met in Paris, and I can't find her. In the meantime, you can use my resources to find a lawyer and sue the guy who claimed your work." He proposed.
"What if I don't win the law suit or can't find someone to represent me in a year?" She asked.
"Then, I'll pay for you to have your surgery and recovery, we'll get the marriage annulled, and I'll leave the rest up to you." He asked hopeful.
She considered for a while, drank another shot, and then shook her head. "What if tomorrow we sober up and come to our senses or forget it ever happened?"
"Then we'll annul it right away and no harm done. We won't be any worse off than we were before we met. We'll go our separate ways. Look, there is really no harm is there? And there is nothing that we will do tonight that we can't undo tomorrow." He got down on one knee in front of her and took her hand. "Now, will you let me be your knight in shining armor and save you? In return, will you agree to be my bride for a year and save me from my arranged marriage?"
She covered her mouth surprised and flattered. "Yes."
He stood back up and then poured them a drink. "So we have a deal?" He took her hand to shake it.
"Yes." She shook his hand. "Serenity Pretoria Jameson, by the way."
"Eh?" He asked.
"My name. I thought you should at least know the name of the person you are going to marry." She explained.
"Sei ren a ti?" He pronounced slowly.
"Just call me Jaren. That is what everyone here calls me." She responded.
"Jar en?" He asked again.
"Yes, Ja from Jameson, and ren from Serenity." She responded.
"Well it is a pleasure to meet you Jaren, or should I say Mrs. Mimisaka?" He shook her hand and handed her the drink he had poured. "To us." He held up his glass.
"To us." She clinked his glass. They drank.
"More." He spoke.
"Eh? You want another drink?" She asked and reached for the alcohol and his glass to pour another drink.
"No, I want to know more about you." He responded. "If we are going to be husband and wife, we should know more than just each other's names."
"I agree. So, let's start with you. Tell me all about Mimisaka Akira." She asked.
For the next two hours, they shared every detail of their life with each other.
6:30 a.m. The next morning
She woke up at her usual time with a splitting headache. She felt around her until she found the nightstand next to her bed and felt for her glasses. She did not feel them. Then she opened the drawer and felt in there. She found the usual hotel condiments but no glasses. She began to become anxious for without her glasses, she had no hope of seeing anything. She leaned out of the bed and felt around on the floor next to the nightstand for her glasses. She leaned over too far and almost fell out of the bed. She almost let out a yelp but caught herself before she did and instead gasped. It was that moment she finally noticed that she wasn't alone. In response to her gasp, she heard a deep contented sigh and exhalation of a male voice. She quickly sat up right in the bed causing her head to pound even more, and she almost released another gasp but suppressed it as she heard the even breathing of the man lying next to her asleep. She slowly felt down the front of her body to her thighs and cringed as she discovered she was not wearing a single stitch of clothing. She tried in vain to remember what had transpired the previous night and was rewarded only with an intense pain shooting through her head. She then tried in vain to look around her. She panicked for a second. Then she calmed down, listened to the rhythmic breathing and slowly crept out of bed. She crawled on her hands and knees trying to gain her bearings and feel for her glasses.
The curtains were drawn, and it was still dusk outside. She turned 360 trying to locate a source of any light that could guide her. After her 360, she went ahead and began moving forward. She repeatedly ran into foreign objects unfamiliar with the layout of the room. I'm in his room. She thought as she continued feeling blindly and bumping into things. When she had traversed what she thought had to be half of the room she sat down cross-legged and sighed. She became distraught and rubbed her head. Please, please let some light shine and let me locate my glasses. She looked all around, and at that moment, light from under the door shone through due to the elevator being activated on their floor and reflected off of her glasses into her eyes. That split second was all she needed to crawl over to her glasses. She crawled to her glasses, picked them up and pressed a hidden button on the stem of her glasses that turned on an infrared light function on her glasses. That button took an infrared picture of the room and then outlined the layout in red and displayed a black and white picture in her glasses. It framed all of the objects in light allowing her to see shapes and outlines. It was just enough for her to make out her clothes and where the bathroom door was. Her eyes pored over the image displayed in her glasses memorizing the layout.
She retrieved her clothes and headed for the bathroom. She quickly took another image looking for the toilet so that she could make use of its facilities. Once she had emptied the contents of her stomach, she sat down on the edge of the tub and knocked her head against the wall. "What did I do last night? If only I could remember?" Then she went over the last thing she recalled. "Last night was my debut, that thief stole my work, I went to Madame Toussaint's to drink, but she sent me to the hotel with a trusted patron and then…" She gasped. "We did it. We got married."
A/N: I know it is a long chapter, but it has a lot of information in it. Just wait until we get to later chapters. You will really understand. Don't worry. I will continue to weave in the sci-fi and original story into every chapter. The title of the chapter is a play on words. The knight refers to Akira rescuing her, but also to that night as she forgets both of them.