Note: It has been a long year, but the end is finally here. Thank you everyone for all the favorites and following of this story. I appreciate all the support you've given me. See ya next time. :)
As The Season Changes
Chapter Eighteen
"You're damned lucky," his father said from his seat beside Keigo's hospital bed.
"I'm fine. It was only a sever anxiety attack." Keigo grimaced, feeling ridiculous.
"It could have been a heart attack. The doctor said it was a warning to slow down."
"Yeah. It certainly had that effect." Keigo moved restlessly beneath the covers, uncomfortable in the stiff bed.
"You scared the hell out of me when I found you. When I saw you lying there you were so still, and your lips were turning blue. Hell, son, I almost had a second heart attack seeing you like that." Kyoususke got up to pace. Keigo briefly envied him his mobility. They had stuck all sorts of monitoring tubes into him.
Kyoususke ran a hand through his hair. "You do what they tell you, you hear? They said twenty-four hours observation and you'd better comply. I have every intention of going before you do, so don't screw up my plans. Understand?"
Keigo shifted restlessly under the covers before reaching over and removing something from the bedside drawer.
"Explain this to me while I wait," he demanded his jaw tensing. The machine beside the bed beeped.
"What's th—? Oh, Aiko's company papers."
Keigo closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. The monitor beside the bed emitted several high-pitched, nurse-alerting beeps. She bustled into the room, tsk-tsking, and warned him to take it easy. She took his pulse, straightened sheets and generally annoyed Keigo further. Kyoususke gave him a warning look.
The moment the woman left Keigo said coldly, "An explanation."
"She said she was going to give you the darn thing. Well, there you have it. You're now owner of Senses."
"Why the hell would she do that?" The monitor emitted a series of beeps.
"It was all very hush-hush." His father sighed. "Hatori's will was being contested."
Keigo sat up against the metal headboard ignoring the tape tugging painfully at his skin from his movement. "The man isn't even dead. Who would—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His father continued. "Naturally, Hatori's sole beneficiary was Aiko, his only child. Much to the displeasure of his wife, who was going to be left with nothing."
Keigo winced as he pulled the needle from the back of his hand. "So of course that bitch opposed the will. She's taken so much from Ai, she had to take what rightfully belongs to her as well? And you couldn't have told me?"
"This happened eight years ago. Back then you didn't give a damn." Kyoususke stared, fascinated, as Keigo ripped another tape and needle combo off his skin. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Obviously not." Keigo grimaced as a bead of blood welled on his hand. He looked up at his father, frowning. "What were you doing? Just standing by watching that harpy take away Ai's inheritance?"
"I offered my best lawyers. Aiko renounced everything herself. She already had this fledgeling company to her name, so I enlisted the help of Tarou, to make something of it. It was all perfectly legal, mind you."
"Yeah, up to the corporate sabotage." Keigo swore. He tossed aside the blankets, swung his feet to the cold floor and stood up.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"There's something I have to do. Then I'm coming back to finish off you and Tarou." Keigo slammed drawers. "But first I have to find my clothes."
"She always was a grasping little wench." Kyoususke said mildly, watching his son with penetrating blue eyes. Another drawer slammed.
"Don't call her that," Keigo warned through clenched teeth. "Aha." He found his shoes, then his socks. Why the hell couldn't they keep everything together?
"Grasping."
"Ai never asked me for a thing."
"Selfish, then. All women are."
Keigo opened the wardrobe and found the rest of his clothing. "Ai is the most generous, kindhearted woman I've ever met." For a moment his hands were filled with brown leather and the mingling scents of Ai and unfulfilled needs. He tossed the jacket on the rumpled bed.
"Incapable of loving a man, though."
"Bull." Keigo pulled on underwear and stood to fasten his pants. "Ai is filled with love."
"All she wanted was expensive presents. That's what they all want."
"Ai didn't want presents."
"Wanted the notoriety of being with Atobe Keigo in public. Liked the Lear, I bet."
"No." Keigo slipped on his shirt. "She didn't care much for the Lear. She said she preferred the commercial flights because the people were so damn interesting." He buckled his belt and looked on the bed for his socks.
"Well, hell," Kyoususke pushed. "A mistress should know her place. She should have taken pride in the fact she belonged to you, damn her." Kyoususke glanced at Keigo from beneath heavy lids.
"A woman doesn't belong to a man like a dog, father."
"No? Well, I don't see why she was humiliated when the gutter press labeled her your 'Calender Girl'. Hell, she knew it was only for a year."
"Eight months." Keigo plopped down to pull on socks and shoes.
"Couldn't go the distance, could she? She didn't even have to put in a full year to reap the benefits."
Keigo searched his pockets. "There were no benefits, father. Ai gave it all back."
Kyoususke hooted. "And you believed that, son? A clever ploy, no doubt. Women can be very conniving. We men have to watch ourselves. God forbid we give them an inch."
"Give it up, father. I know what you're trying to do."
Kyoususke sighed before rising. He gave Keigo a hard look. "Aiko's the best thing to happen to you in your life." Kyoususke turned his back to stare out the window. He watched Keigo in the reflection before he turned around again. "Don't let what I did in my marriages mark your life. You could change that pattern, Keigo.
Aiko has grown into a fine woman. She has spunk and backbone and as much integrity as you do—and more love in her than a man could use up in three lifetimes. How could any man be so damn stupid as to let her slip through his fingers? Not once, but twice!"
"Well, hell," Keigo said caustically, feeling the sting of his father's displeasure added to his own guilt. "Excuse me for being human!"
"We'll discuss your alleged species later, in the meantime what are you going to do about Aiko?"
"What the hell am I supposed to do? She hit me with a one-two punch to the groin."
"Are you sure it wasn't your heart?"
"I doubt she thinks I have one." Keigo slipped the folded piece of paper off the beside table into the pocket of his jacket. "Didn't I have my wallet when they brought me in?"
"In the nightstand," Kyoususke said absently. "You haven't lost a thing. Aiko gave up everything for you. She gave up a job she'd trained for and loved. She gave up most of her friends. She remained at your beck and call even when you didn't—beck and call, that is." He heaved a weary sigh as he rose from his chair. "Tell me, Keigo, have you ever considered what being your mistress does to a woman like Aiko?"
Keigo eyed his father, who looked as old as he felt at that moment, but said nothing.
"As men, have we ever considered what it must be like when everyone knows the woman we're with is only temporary? Not good enough to have them stick around. Helen pounded into my head how a woman feels. I tell you, son. It stinks. They're forever scorned and pitied. The trash magazines tear their guts out for public consumption. And we turn around and start hunting for the next woman before they even know we're done with them, oblivious to the carnage we leave behind."
"I've never treated Ai that way."
"Asked yourself why?"
Keigo gave the older man a penetrating look. "I've thought about it." His tone was grim. "In the past weeks, I've thought of little else."
"Well then?"
Keigo stared at his father. "You want this for her very badly, don't you?"
"I want this very badly for both of you, son. But mostly for you because, I have to tell you, I believe Aiko could limp along with her life without you. But I don't believe you're going to manage much of a life without her."
"She's pregnant."
"Congratulations."
"The child isn't mine."
"Don't be absurd. Of course it is."
"I had a vasectomy years ago."
Kyoususke shook his head. "It wouldn't be the first time nature won over a surgeon's knife. If you have doubts, check it out. Hell, you're already here. When you're finished, ask your doctor for a refund."
Keigo sank down on the side of the bed. "You crafty bastard, haven't I gone through enough humiliation for one day?"
Kyoususke smiled. "Guess not."
ATSC
Ai sat in her car looking at the country mansion. This is where it had all begun. The beginning of the end. She should have returned the deed of the house along with everything else. But a part of her hadn't wanted to let go.
Rain sluiced down her windshield, blurring the lights. The whop-whop-whop of the wipers was starting to get on her nerves. A sharp white spear of lightning illuminated the sky: thunder rumbled overhead. Perfect, just perfect. The cold desolation squeezed around her heart, and she choked on the lump in her throat.
Her eyes were dry, but still burning from the last bout of tears, as she got out of her car. Bareheaded, she made a mad dash for the door. The familiar smell of pine and lemon cleaner assailed her as she entered. She walked a short tour, going through every room, opening every door, turning lights off and on.
She went to the room that had been designated hers as a child. This had been her haven, her freedom. Her escape from the clutches of her family. Here she had discovered her adventurist side. Lastly, she went to the bedroom she and Keigo had shared in October.
So much had changed in her life since she'd last been here. It was strange to see everything remained the same at the house. The same furniture, beds, sofas, lamps. The same paintings in the walls, same potted plants. Ai sighed. At least there were some constants in life.
For the past few weeks she'd stayed in a hotel in town. She hadn't wanted anyone to know where she was until she'd figured out what she was going to do, and where she was going to go.
Atobe Keigo's reach was long and deadly. The rational part of her mind told her to move to another galaxy far, far away. Unfortunately, she wasn't that smart. She had other plans.
Her heart did a one-two thump. Anger would have been wonderfully cathartic, but she had no right to it. Other than the way it had been delivered, everything Keigo had said in his office had been true. From his point of view.
She didn't have a leg to stand on. Her pain, however, despite knowing she'd asked for it, was very real. She'd always prided herself on taking responsibility for her own actions. She was one-hundred percent responsible for her own broken heart. Keigo had never lied to her.
She'd taken a chance on love. And lost.
Until the next round.
If she was mad at anyone, it was herself. For believing she could change a man so set in his ways. The Glacier King. Rock hard and implacable. Slow to melt. So accustomed to a woman's betrayal, Ai ached for him.
She glanced at her watch then looked out the rain-sprinkled window. She squinted against the bright flash of lightning that illuminated the forest and lake outside. She waited for the thunder but the whop-whop-whop outside sounded more like her aged windshield wipers.
Ai enjoyed the momentary distraction.
It was very late, well after ten. Ai wondered what time Keigo had arrived home tonight or if he was even in the country. What had his reaction been to the tree and gifts? God, she hoped it softened him a little, made what she'd done a little easier to take. With Keigo it was impossible to guess how he'd react.
She'd give him twenty-four hours to digest everything, then she'd use whatever it took to make him see he loved her, too.
Wherever he was, he better be alone. Ai straightened. It was early for mistress number... whatever, but Keigo had been angry enough to ignore his own calender.
Ai rested her forehead on the cold window-glass and closed her eyes as pain swamped her. She couldn't bear thinking of him with another woman. She'd promised herself she would never read another paper or watch tabloid TV ever again. She couldn't stand the thought of Keigo kissing another woman.
Sighing, she opened her eyes. Her body froze as she caught movement down below. Her eyes widened. Ai's heart leaped to her throat. Amazingly, a black, silver and burgundy Atobe helicopter was parked next to her car. She rushed downstairs just as the front doors opened in a flurry of gust and rain.
Keigo.
The lights were off, but she knew, just knew.
"Aiko."
The familiar voice calling out her name sent a shock wave through her. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Wishing, and not daring to hope, she kept her eyes on him.
She heard the creak of leather. A light turned on.
Her eyes wide, she didn't avert her gaze. He looked exhausted, but gloriously handsome. His hair was wet, disheveled. He wore jeans and the brown leather jacket over his red Karuizawa shirt. And he was as cold as the winter storm whipping the trees outside.
Still struggling for breath, her heart started pounding for an entirely different reason as she started to panic. She had to tell him... She had had every intention of returning this house back to him.
He stepped towards her, his pair of size twelve Haas shoes squishing with water, and slogged with mud. His eyes fixed on her face.
She wanted to touch him so badly. She swallowed hard. "I—I wanted to come here one more time." Ai's eyes stung. Not now, damn it. "I was going to mail the deed back to you next week."
She couldn't tell by his somber expression what he was thinking.
He took her hand, his eyes grave. "I wanted you to have it." Keigo's fingers tightened around hers. "Damn it Aiko." His voice was tight. "This isn't what I came up here to discuss." He ran his splayed fingers through his hair. It stood up in shark fins. Ai stared.
"If you came for more apologies, you have them." She tried to pull her hand away, but he used both hands to hold her in place. She gave him a pointed look. "But I won't apologize into infinity."
"I don't want apologies."
"I can't handle... What do you want, Keigo?"
"I want you to marry me."
Ai squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them the look she gave him was cool. "I don't blame you for wanting to hurt me because of the lies I told you. But please," she started to sidestep him and he held her firmly in place, his hands warm around hers, "please, don't taunt me."
Ai bit inside her lip to keep it from trembling. Her eyes filled with the annoying tears that still plagued her. She stared out the window, willing her eyes to dry. She gasped, as Keigo without letting go of her hands, knelled down.
"Marry me. For real. Forever, Ai." Keigo's voice was so low she had to strain to hear him.
Hope leaped in her heart. Keigo was on one knee, head bowed, beside her. "Oh, god, Keigo." Ai's sob caught in her throat. "Please don't." She couldn't bear to see him so humbled.
He looked straight into her eyes. His were sheened and his jaw clenched. "Be my wife, Ai." His voice had an almost imperceptible break in it. "Please."
She reached out and touched his face. His skin felt chilled.
His hand covered hers. "Say yes."
"Get up, please."
"Say yes first."
"We have to talk," Ai said desperately, not allowing hope to bloom. "There are so many things we haven't sai—"
He rose and put two fingers across her mouth. "Shh. We have a lifetime to say all the things we want to say." He took her hand, leading her to the sofa, sinking into the cushions his eyes remained on her.
She tasted blood as she chewed the inside of her lip. Life was hard enough on a child. She would never subject the baby to a father who didn't love it wholeheartedly.
"It's Thursday," he said, his lips twitching slightly as Ai looked at him blankly. "Remember? You told me once you would only get married on a Thursday." He picked up her hand, toying with her fingers. Ai felt the electricity of his touch down to her toes.
"That was a lifetime ago," Ai whispered, stunned he'd remembered. "So much has happened in between—"
"Yes. I finally grew up." He sounded impatient with himself. "I should have held on to you then, Ai. We could have had those fifteen years together if I hadn't been such an insensitive ass."
"You were my knight in shining armor," Ai told him quietly, her fingers gripping his. His gaze was so serious as he scanned her face.
"A pretty damn tarnished knight." His lips twisted. "I allowed what my mother had done to me to color my emotions. And, like a fool, I almost lost the best thing to happen in my life." He tilted her chin with his finger. "Can you ever forgive my transgressions, Ai?"
"You know I have." A hot wash of tears bathed her cheeks. Her stomach churned as she fought the impulse to throw herself into his arms.
"Ah, Ai." He leaned forward and dabbed the tears spilling down her cheeks with his hands. "I went home late yesterday afternoon," he said, his thumb on her cheek. His blue eyes intense on her. "I was dreading going into that damn cold, dark house one more time. Ready, in fact to put it on the market. You were everywhere, Ai. Everywhere and in everything. Everywhere I looked, everything I heard, everything I tasted and smelled."
"And I realized I could sell all my houses, the yachts, the planes, it wouldn't make a damn bit of difference. Because no matter where I was, no matter what I did, you would always be there with me. In my heart."
She stared at him wide-eyed, her heart in some kind of weird time warp. Too terrified to believe what he was saying. And just as terrified not to.
"I opened each of the presents you gave me and I wondered who had taught you to be so loving. Who had shown you how heart-achingly wonderful a loving touch could be. Not your mother. Not a man."
He dropped his hand and reached in his pocket, withdrawing his handkerchief and resumed blotting her tears. "I realized, almost too late, that what you were giving me was what you had always craved for yourself. Tenderness, caring, trust and unconditional love."
She wanted to say something, anything. But her heart seemed to have stopped beating. The world, her world, had paused on its axis.
Again Keigo reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out an envelope, then laid a small blue box on the coffee table.
"I love you, Saotome Aiko. I might be a slow learner, but when I've learned the lesson, I assure you, I never forget. I can't imagine my life without you. Please, marry me and put me out of this misery."
Ai stared down at the box with blurred vision.
"What about the baby?" She took his hankie from him and wiped her cheeks. He gave her that smile she loved, the one that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
"And I love our baby."
"You don't believe she is your baby," she reminded him, forgetting how to breathe.
"It's... a she? She is my baby, Ai. If she's a part of you, then it's part of me." he smiled. "Do you know what a good father does for his children?"
Ai could think of a thousand things. She shook her head.
"The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."
Ai's chest ached.
She dabbed her eyes with the hankie again. "I'll be glad when my hormones get back to normal," she said waspishly. "I hate all this crying in front of you."
He smiled. "You can do anything you like in front of me, Ai."
"What's in the envelope?"
"Open it and see." He chuckled lightly. "Only you would be more interested in the envelope than the jewelry box."
She gave him a look before she opened the small velvet box. "This is definitely real." The diamond was not ostentatious, just exquisitely beautiful, surrounded by baguettes, in a simple gold setting. She pushed the box towards him and stuck out her left hand. "Put it on quickly," she demanded.
Keigo laughed. He pulled her closer against him. She closed her eyes as his fingers threaded through her hair. She tilted her mouth. Then he kissed her. Softly and leisurely and with every fiber of love he could muster. She felt giddy when he let her up for air. Keigo slid the ring on her finger. His gaze devoured her face before lowering to rest on her tummy.
"God, Ai," he said breathlessly, one hand reverently touching her through the thick sweater. When he finally looked up, his eyes had filled with tears.
"I love you, Atobe Keigo."
"I know you do, Ai. And I plan to spend the rest of my life cherishing you. There'll never be a day you won't know how much I love you in return."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely, unequivocally, and positively." He pushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Are you gong to open this?" he asked, his arm around her, referring to the envelope.
"Is is important?"
"No. Just a small test I had."
"What kind of test?"
"Sperm count."
She looked at the sealed opening.
"And you haven't opened it?"
"The results make no difference to me, I told you that."
"And you'll marry me and love the baby no matter what the piece of paper says?"
"Without a moment's hesitation," he assured her.
Ai handed the envelope back to him. "You open it."
"It makes no—"
"Open it."
She watched as he slit the envelope open with his Swiss Army knife, unfolded the single sheet and scanned the test results.
"Well?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It says—" Keigo swallowed roughly and looked at Ai with his heart in his eyes. "It says you are marrying an idiot who adores you, and that we'll live happily ever after, and have at least two more children."
Ai felt the smile blossoming from her heart. "I love a happy ending, don't you?"
The End.
