Hello! I found time to update, and I have good news. I'll have more time to work on the story seeing as the worst of school will be over next week. I only have three exams to worry about, and two are pretty easy.
When I finally graduate, I plan on using that summer to update ALL of my stories regularly. I'll probably start the new story either in May or June. The title will be: Two Worlds One Heart.
So here ya go. Chapter 19: Things to Come
MONDAY: Six Days Until Departure
Yumi skipped into the office. She was beaming. And she had a lot to be happy about, believe it or not. Everything was going smoothly with Aelita and Jeremie's wedding. She no longer felt an attachment to Zander. She'd be on her way to Japan within a week. And most importantly, her boss was AWESOME! Why? Because she's in love with him, of course. Well the last reason was just the reason why she looked forward to work, and wasn't anything different than before. But everything was finally going her way . . . now if she could just find out if Ulrich felt the same way, it would be paradise.
"Hi, Ulrich!" Yumi chirped as she walked over to her desk.
"You're happy." Ulrich said busily typing away on his computer.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well people normally feel lousy on Mondays."
"True, but this is our last week of work before we go to Japan."
"It's not a vacation, Yumes. We'll be working there too." He stopped typing and leaned back in his chair. "We'll just work less than normal and take in the sights whenever we can."
"Our work is just meetings and presentations really. You said we'll be done by lunchtime almost every day of our stay there."
"Remember, I'm counting on you for a lot with this proposition. You're pretty much the mediator between us. They really seem fond of you too."
"Really?" Yumi raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I think it's because you're a native, and you kind of make them feel comfortable knowing that someone they can relate with will be a potential partner."
"Looks like, you owe me a thank you."
"I owe more than that. I owe you my life."
Yumi thought on that. "Hmmm. Your life. I can definitely use that in my plans of taking over the world."
"Well those plans will have to wait. I'm still using my life. When I'm done with it, it's all yours."
"Shoot, I might be dead by then."
"That's kind of the point." Ulrich smirked.
"You suck and thank you gifts." Yumi bluntly said. Ulrich chuckled.
Yumi sighed. "A whole week back at home. Oh! I gotta tell my family!"
"You mean didn't call them yet?"
"No, I was so excited to go back home, I forgot to tell them I was coming."
"You are a genius. From your tactful hand business to your aloofness of the most common things."
"Shut up." Yumi said as she pulled out her cell phone.
"You're gonna call them now? What time is it over there?"
"It's 8 in the morning here. So it's like 9 at night over there." Yumi finally found her mom's cell number and awaited her to pick up.
"Mushi mushi." Her mother answered.
"Mom! It's me."
"Yumi! How nice to hear from you. I thought you'd never call. Hold on for a minute. Takeo! Yumi called! She's not dead after all!"
"Mom!" Yumi groaned.
"What? You hardly ever call. What were we supposed to think?"
"Gomen. I'll call more often.
"You're on speaker dear. Say hello to your father and your brother."
"Hi, Dad. Hi, Hiroki."
"Yo, Sis." Her brother replied.
"Yumi, it's nice to hear my only daughter's voice again before die. I can only guess as to how long it'll be before you grace me with your voice let your face once more."
"Ha ha, Dad. I'll make sure my face and voice is the last thing you see before you croak."
"Don't do that to Dad. That's a curse if your rotten face is the last thing anyone sees." Hiroki said.
"Your face makes girls scream and commit seppuku." Yumi lashed back. Ulrich gave her a peculiar look. She just smiled and winked at him. He rolled his eyes.
"So is this just to call and say hi, or is there a reason why you called?" Mrs. Ishiyama asked.
"Actually there is a reason why I called."
"Knew it. Sorry, but you'll get no money from Mom and Dad. They're using it for my tuition. Or do you not want your dear brother going to college?"
"Like you'll amount to anything. And that's not why I'm calling anyways."
"Then what is it, sweetie?" Mr. Ishiyama asked.
"I'm coming home next week!" Yumi could hear their gasps at the other end.
"Yogata! That is great news! Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Mr. Ishiyama asked.
"I meant to, but I was caught up in the moment of realizing that I was going."
"We can't wait to see you, Yumi. Heaven knows it's been so long." Mrs. Ishiyama commented.
"I'm actually coming for a business trip."
"See! It's not even because she just wants come and visit." Hiroki pointed out.
"Well with your sister, you have to take all the chances you can get." Mr. Ishiyama said.
"Un, I'll be glad to see you anyways, Onee-chan." Hiroki said.
"I can't wait to see you too, Ototo-san."
"So work must be good." Mr. Ishiyama inferred.
"It is. We're making a business deal with Sony in fact."
"That's great. Get us some deals on their new TVs." Mrs. Ishiyama said.
Yumi laughed. "I'll see what I can do."
"You know, I have to meet the man who hired you. Tell him that I insist he comes over to our house so we can thank him with a nice dinner." Mr. Ishiyama said.
"Okay, I think he'll like that very much. Make a lot of traditional dishes, Mom."
"Of course."
"I'll see you in a week, then." Yumi said. With that, they all said their goodbyes.
"So who has a seppuku-causing face?" Ulrich asked.
"My brother, that's who."
"I hoped that who you were talking to cause if not, you and your mom have a very interesting relationship."
"We'd have an interesting relationship anyways. We have to band together to just be on equal footing with my dad and Hiroki."
"Well when the gender is split down the middle, things like that happen I suppose."
"I feel sorry for your mom." Yumi said. "She had no other female to understand her."
"Well my dad and I weren't that bad. I like to think we're on the good end of the male spectrum."
"Your father might be, but you? Ha!" Yumi said.
"Ms. Ishiyama, I will not have you disrespect me." Ulrich said.
"Oh yeah, go and play the boss card."
"Well that's what it's for. If I didn't use it, being your boss wouldn't be fun. I'd lose have the luster of sitting behind this desk." Ulrich said as he laid by in the chair and then propped his feet onto the desk.
"Well, Boss Man, my parents want to you to come over for dinner."
Ulrich sat up. "They do? For what?" Ulrich asked. "I mean, what did you tell them about me that would make them wanna do that?" Ulrich had a slight blush form on his face. Meeting the parents already? They weren't even dating yet! They were just friends.
"They wanna thank you for hiring me, duh." Yumi said nonchalantly.
". . . Oh. Yeah, that makes sense." Ulrich said. He could be a clueless idiot sometimes. "You did tell them about me didn't you?"
"How else would they come to the idea of inviting you dinner?" Yumi said.
"No, I mean, did you tell them that I'm around your age and what not?"
"Oh, actually I never got around to that. And seeing as you're really just known by name in Asia as of now, I highly doubt they know how you look." Yumi giggled. "They'll probably think you're my boyfriend or something. Wouldn't that funny? They'll be expecting some old coot, and then you walk through the door. Maybe I won't even tell them you're my boss at first just to see their reactions."
"Don't do that, you'll get me killed by your father." Ulrich said.
"Oh come on. I'll just say you're a really close friend. My dad will have a freaking cow when he realizes my boss is not only younger but that he's actually a year younger than me. It'll be hilarious."
"I'm not dying for your enjoyment."
"But you said that your life is mine."
"I'm still using it!"
"Well that's too bad. I'll put it to some good use in Japan. Speaking of which, I plan on giving you a grand tour of Tokyo."
"I look forward to it. Let's go to your parent's house on the day we leave, shall we?"
Yumi laughed. "Nope. I'll do everything in my power to make sure we go to their house by that Monday. Not Sunday. We'll need to sleep off the jetlag of course."
"I hate you." Ulrich grumbled.
"Well you're gonna love me once I get Sony for you."
"I don't believe in you anymore. If dying by the hands of an over-protective father is the cost of getting Sony, I'll live just fine without it." Ulrich said as he folded his arms and hunched up his shoulders.
"Whatever." Yumi rolled her yes.
WEDNESDAY: 4 Days Until Departure
"So how long will be in Japan?" Mr. Stern asked his son. The Sterns were eating dinner in their private dining room (yes they have more than one dining room).
"We'll be there for a week." Ulrich answered.
"A whole week. I always wanted to go to Japan." Mrs. Stern said enviously.
"We can go for our anniversary." Mr. Stern declared. His wife smiled at him. Being married to a billionaire who actually loves you definitely had its perks.
"Well it won't be just us having fun there. We'll be working on trying get the deal settled with Sony." Ulrich pointed out.
"I know." Mrs. Stern said she cut up her rib. "Question. Who is 'us' exactly?"
"Huh?"
"You said 'us' and 'we.'" Mrs. Stern said, tilting her head and looking at her son out of the corner of her eye.
"Did you mean 'us' as in you and Miss Yumi." Mr. Stern said, playing along. Ulrich blushed. He decided to stuff his face with mashed potatoes in order to avoid talking. "Honey, I think he's trying to avoid the question." Mr. Stern continued.
"Well that obviously means that we're correct."
"We don't have to worry about you to doing anything," Mr. Stern looked up, searching for the right words, "I don't know, naughty or something you wouldn't want us to know about are you?" Ulrich choked.
"Okay, what is going on here?" Ulrich sputtered.
Mrs. Stern giggled. "He's blushing like he's drunk."
"Ahh, young love. You may as well be drunk when you're smitten with it." Mr. Stern teased.
"He's intoxicated with the girl."
"I am not intoxicated with anything." Ulrich denied.
Mr. Stern set his fork down. "See, why you couldn't lie this badly when you used to sneak out the house and work on that motorcycle you weren't allowed to have."
"Now, Ulrich. You told me you loved her the other day." Mrs. Stern revealed. Her husband looked at her and then Ulrich in mock surprise.
"Oh really? When was this?"
"It was on the day they came back from his "bachelor pad."
"Wow." Mr. Stern had a proud look on his face. "My son's a tiger like his old man. You sure know how to pick 'em. He's in love with a secretary. Like father like son, eh?" He said giving him a wink.
"Why are you two acting so immature? I expect this from Odd and Jeremie but not my parents."
"But we actually like this one. She's not like the other selfish brats you've dated in the past." Mrs. Stern replied.
"Well Mary wasn't selfish. She was just very clingy." Ulrich said.
"That's what happens when you date a crazed, obsessed fan-girl."
"Well getting back to your original question, I meant 'us' as in the company." Silence . . . "Okay, so if I were to go about Tokyo it would most likely be with Yumi, but that's because I with her all the time."
"And whose fault is that?"
"She's my secretary! We share the same office! I can't help that!"
"Ulrich, yelling only makes us believe even more that you're wrapped in love with this girl." Mr. Stern said with a slightly amused look on his face at his son's antics.
"Well stop making fun of me." Ulrich whined.
"Okay, you crybaby. You act like such a kid sometimes." His mother muttered.
Ulrich looked at her incredulously. "All this teasing . . . all of this giggling and making fun of me, and you call me the kid? That's it. I'm done." Ulrich stood up from his seat and turned to the chef. "Dinner was lovely." He said with a big smile on his face. As he walked out, his parents were calling after him, saying something along the lines of, "You know it's true!" or, "You can't hide it!"
THURSDAY: 3 Days Until Departure
Because there were only a few days left before Ulrich and Yumi would leave for Japan, the gang decided to go out to eat and just hang out.
"You guys are gonna have so much fun in Japan." Aelita said. "You can see the Tokyo Tower, and you can eat sushi at a sushi bar. Actually you can REAL Asian food and not American Asian food, and you can go watch a sumo match, or you could go to a festival and watch fireworks, and—,"
"Aelita!" Yumi shouted, cutting her off. "I've lived there and visit there every year. It's just home to me."
"Yeah, but Ulrich's never been." Aelita said. She turned to the brunette. "You should have Yumi show you around. It would allow you to get to know her in a way that you've never done before."
"I know better and more fun way he can do that." Odd said obnoxiously. Sam slapped him on his arm while Ulrich preferred to punch knock him upside the head. "Okay, I deserved that."
"Well there is definitely a lot of culture there, so you two take a lot of pictures and bring souvenirs." Jeremie said.
"You know, I've known Yumi for almost 11 years, and I haven't been to Japan yet." Sam said. "I am insulted."
"Well, I'm sorry for not being rich enough to take you halfway around the world, but this is business trip."
"Well you make sure you handle your business you two." Odd said with wink. Needless to say, he got hit again.
"You've known each other for over decade?" Ulrich asked. The three girls nodded. "Wow, you guys really have been together forever."
"Yep, we're sisters." Yumi beamed.
"So did you three meet?" Jeremie asked.
"Well Sam and I have known each other longer." Aelita started. "We met in fourth grade. We had to pick a buddy to help us in any paired or group activity that we'd do that year, and Sam nearly yanked my arm off when she pulled me to her side and declared that we were partners." Aelita said rubbing her right arm as if she could still feel the pain.
"Oh you lived." Sam swiped her hand, waving the memory away.
"So why'd you pick her?" Ulrich asked.
"Because she had strawberry cupcakes every day for lunch, and I wanted one." Sam smiled.
"So this why you love her." Ulrich said to Odd. Odd vigorously nodded with a cheesy grin plastered on his face.
"I guess you could say I was force to be friends (and give up one of my cupcakes) with Sam against my will." Everyone laughed.
"So where does Miss Ishiyama come in the picture?" Jeremie asked.
"When I was in the seventh grade and they were in the sixth." Yumi answered. "My dad's job had my family transferred to NYC when I was just starting middle school, so I had been in America for a year. I actually met Sam and Aelita because of a dare."
"A dare? What kind of dare?" Odd asked. He liked dares.
"Well we were just entering middle school you know." Sam started.
"And we had to make a name for ourselves."
"Because if we didn't, everyone would think we were pushovers."
"Just get to the point." Ulrich said, getting impatient.
"Well we were both dared to insult the meanest and baddest girl in school." Sam said.
"And it just so happened to be Yumi." Ulrich gave Yumi a peculiar look.
"You were the big bad girl in school?"
"I was an immigrant you was mistaken for a goth chick. Plus with my harsh comments, no one dared cross my path."
"Stubborn 'til the end, huh?" Ulrich retorted. Yumi stuck her tongue out at him.
"So what happened next?" Odd asked, getting excited. "Did she beat you two into a bloody pulp?"
"No." Sam said flatly. "We insulted her, and she insulted right back. Then it kind of turned into a shouting match. Now you have to remember we're talking about Aelita and me against Yumi. That's a timid girl and hot-head girl against a sardonic stubborn girl. It was quite the show for the students . . . but not so much for the teachers.
"We ended up getting detention that day." Yumi said.
"We had it with the most evil teacher ever: Miss Hell. No lie. Her name really was Hell."
"There was a reason why she was single." Sam said.
"Her three husbands all died for one." Yumi added. The boys were laughing too much to even comment.
"Right when she left the room we spent the whole time making fun of her."
"It's nice to know that people can create a life-long friendship out of banding together against a hated teacher." Ulrich said.
"Yes, we should write a book for others enjoy our friendship." Sam retorted.
"We had some crazy times together." Aelita said nostalgically.
"So," Odd said, stretching the word, "Where does Zander come in?"
"Yeah, what was up with all that stuff Zander said?" Ulrich asked, curious.
The three girls exchanged glances and sighed. "It was in high school." Yumi said. "I was a senior, and I was still known as the most feared girl in the school. Zander was supposed to be the most feared boy in school. So of course there was talk of if we were to ever date. I needed a date for prom, and Aelita and Sam were determined to get me one even if I really didn't want one. They decided to pair me up with Zander. So in January of that year, I was forced into a date with Zander."
"Worst mistake of our lives." Sam said as she held her head in her heads. "If we had have known the demon he was, we would've never done it."
"Yumi was slowly drifting away from us, and we were afraid we'd lose our best friend." Aelita said. "So as prom came closer, we were determined to split them up. We talked about it countless times, but every time we did, it would turn into an argument."
"So I decided to take matters into my own hands." Sam said. "I was going to ruin prom by setting the sprinkler alarms off. So I was going light a match and just hold to the smoke detectors. At least that's what the plan was. I don't know how, but Zander caught on to my plan. He took some of the matches and used them to set off the fireworks that were supposed to be used for the prom. Seeing as they hadn't been set up yet, they ended up flying all around the prom grounds and one just so happen to catch one of the tables on fire. It was complete desire."
"So that's how you got arrested. The police must've thought that you did it because you had the rest of the matches." Ulrich deduced.
"Exactly."
"So how come you're not in jail?" Odd asked with his eyes getting bigger with every detail.
"Yumi lied and took the fall. She said that she used one of the matches to light candles and she didn't dispose of it properly and set off the fireworks."
"I was valedictorian." Yumi said. "I had excellent scores and I made the school look really great. The principal was on his knees begging the police not to take me away. They let me off with a very stern lecture. The principal was livid with me. I still had the top grades, but I couldn't be considered for valedictorian. You wanna take a guess as to who was selected?"
"Zander." The boys said in unison.
"All that just to take valedictorian?" Jeremie asked.
"I told you he was nutjob." Ulrich said.
"So how'd you three make up?" Odd asked.
"We didn't make up until my graduation, really." Yumi answered. "I dated Zander for a month after the prom, and then I broke it off because I found out that he set the fireworks off. I should've told someone but no one would have believed me anyways. The proof was all gone. Plus a part of me didn't want to let him go. He was the only guy that I actually thought I'd be with forever. I tried telling myself that it was just one of his misguided pranks gone wrong. I was stupid." Ulrich reached over and gave Yumi's hand a light squeeze. She looked up at him and smiled weakly. "Thanks for helping me realize what a big mistake I was about to make."
"Hey! We told you not to date him too! But Ulrich gets the thank you?" Sam said.
"It's because she loves him." Aelita teased. Ulrich and Yumi blushed as Ulrich let go of her hand scratched the back of his neck. Yumi missed the warmth of her hand in his.
"And now that we've finished the exciting tale of the Three Sisters, let's eat cake!" Odd announced.
SATURDAY: Day Before Departure
"Toothbrush."
"Check."
"Deodarant."
"Check."
"Hairbrush."
"Check."
"Sexy lingerie to model for Ulrich."
"Che-Wait, what?" Yumi said as she stood up glaring at Sam. Aelita burst out laughing as she fell off the couch.
"Yumi my dear, you can't possibly miss this chance with Ulrich." Sam said.
"And to think you actually hit Odd for the comments he made at dinner." Yumi grumbled.
"Well you should've seen this coming. What did you expect when you asked me to make sure you had everything packed?"
"I was expecting you to be civil."
"There's nothing uncivilized by underwear. Everyone wears it!" Sam chuckled as Yumi glared at her again.
"I can't wait to get away from you all."
"You hear that, Sam?" Aelita said, "She just can't wait to get away and be with Ulrich."
"I bet Tokyo's a great place to have a honeymoon. I wouldn't be surprise if the two of them eloped while they were there."
"Isn't he meeting your parents too? It's serious already." Aelita cooed.
"You two are impossible." Yumi said as she finally zipped up her suitcase.
"So are you two sharing rooms?" Sam teased.
"Of course not." Yumi was glad when her ring went off. "What?" she asked rather rudely.
"Sorry, is this a bad time?" Ulrich asked.
"Oh no. Sorry, Sam and Aelita are being jerks."
"No we're not! Don't listen to her, Ulrich." Sam said.
"You got me on speaker? Or did Sam just take over the pone?"
"It's on speaker. So what's up?"
"Oh, I just wanted to remind you that the flight lifts off at five in the morning."
"I know."
"And don't forget to bring your laptop. It's very important for our meetings."
"It's already packed."
"And don't forget my speech. You did proofread, did you?"
"Relax, Ulrich. Everything is going to be fine. And stop your fidgeting."
"I-I'm not fidgeting." Ulrich lied as he sat still.
"Yeah right, you always start moving around the place when you're nervous. I know you. And you get a good night's sleep and I'll see at five."
"Yes ma'am. Oh and one more thing."
"What?"
"Remind me to give you a key to my room. That way we can discuss the partnership whenever we need to or if we need to get anything from the other's room."
"Will you need a key to my room too?" Yumi asked, she was blushing. This sounded so intimate."
"Nah, my room will have practically everything anyways. Plus you'll be rooming with Sissi. And it wouldn't be good to impose on you."
"A key to his room. What will you really be discussing?" Sam asked.
"None of your business, Sam." Ulrich said.
"Is it any of Sony's business?" Aelita asked.
"You know, I'm sorry I even mentioned it." Ulrich said. "Besides she's not the only one getting a key."
"Who else."
"Sissi is too."
"She's like a sister, though. And I bet she's the only other one because you need her to go over the contracts."
"Bye, girls." Ulrich gave up and hung up the phone.
"You two need to be restrained." Yumi said as she went to their bedroom.
"It's the key to his heart." Aelita cooed. Sam and Aelita spent the night trading jokes about Ulrich and Yumi.
SUNDAY Day of Departure
It takes really dedicated and loving friends to actually get up before the sun is out just to say goodbye to you when you go off for a week. Well, all Yumi got from Sam and Aelita as she headed out the door was grumbled byes and have a safe trip.
Ulrich waved at her for her to come over with the other employees that were going on the trip. "You ready?"
"I'm used to this kind of thing. Are you ready?"
"I am. Ikezou!" Ulrich said as he headed through the doors that led to the plane.
"I see you're brushing up on your Japanese there."
"Yeah. I have to at least know the basics."
"Well Japan or Bust."
"Sony or Bust." The two smiled as they stepped onto the plane."
I am done! Yes! I managed to make this chapter a pretty decent size. I know the next chapter will probably be long. You'll I can't wait to start. Japan might be about three maybe four chapters tops. I've got some scenes you'll love to read. I hope you guys liked the debut of the Ishiyamas. You'll see them again in the next chapter. And just to let you know, when Yumi and Ulrich come back, it's straight to the wedding, and a very important decision will have to be made concerning the partnership with Sony.
