This chapter is dedicated to FadingHearts and LalaFran. You guys have really helped me when I was in a pinch.
Summary: To shake off a stubborn fiancé-candidate, Asaka asks Wataru for a favor while Kazuki is in America. Wataru reluctantly agrees, but what's going to happen when Kazuki returns?
Disclaimer: ONLY THE RING FINGER KNOWS does not belong to me. All elements below belong to Kannagi Satoru and its proper copyrights. (Except for my OC's)
Note: These are not, I repeat, these are NOT the actual events of the fourth novel. This is what I guess you could call an alternate storyline. Please do not rely on this fic for information about the fourth novel or on any of the books, although I will be borrowing some scenes and events that took place there.
In the novels, Kannagi-sensei gives a description on how they look. But I also adore Odagiri-sensei's beautiful illustrations, so I'll compromise. Yuichi will still be blonde but not the striking color yellow. Let's say his type of blonde is the type that borders to very light brown. I think it's called honey-blonde? I'll have the eyes be ice blue because I think it suits him.
Wataru's eyes will be black as Kannagi described it to be, and the hair will be of chocolate brown as in Odagiri's illustrations. Asaka's hair will be a reddish brown color because I think it suits his personality, but he still has tan eyes.
Wataru frowned, obviously upset. All this time, the only thing that his finger wore was Kazuki's ring. That and that alone. Then suddenly a new ring takes its place. It didn't feel right. It really felt like he's betraying Kazuki. "I… I don't want to…"
"Then we could just call it off and you can explain to Kazuki-kun why I have his ring." When those words sunk in, Wataru shook his head slightly then said, "All right. I'll go along. But, it's only for today, right?"
"Only for today."
Asaka walked off to the counter to pay for the outfit, while Wataru gazed uneasily at the new ring on his finger. Moments later, the two of them walked out of the shop and proceed to Asaka's family home.
THE UNTOUCHED RING
Chapter Three: Women's Intuition
Wataru felt a sense of nostalgia sweeping through him as he sat there at the passenger seat of the metallic silver station wagon. It was just a few months ago that he had sat at that exact same spot, tears flowing from his eyes due to the wave of emotion that overtook him. It was there that Asaka had embraced him, the scent of the man's cologne invading his senses. Even until now, the aroma of green tea lingered in the car as it had a few months ago.
"Penny for your thoughts, Wataru-kun?"
Wataru looked at Asaka who had glanced at him while still keeping his attention on the road. "You spaced out. Anything wrong?" Wataru shook his head. "No, I was just feeling a bit nervous. This person your grandmother picked out. What kind of person is she?" Asaka raised his brows in thought before sparing the younger man another glance. "Aside from being stubborn, she's pretty much used to getting what she wants. I'm not saying she's spoiled or anything, but she does have a childish side to herself."
Wataru slumped back on his seat. He looked out the window and saw the bright orange sun drifting down the horizon. He remembered once watching the sunset with Kazuki during their trip to Okinawa earlier that summer. They'd also seen the sunset numerous times from the veranda of Kazuki's rented apartment—the only place in the world where they could freely express their love.
"When you get into college, come live with me…"
Wataru's heart ached to hear that voice again. He glanced at the ring on his finger for reassurance, only to be reminded that the ring he was wearing wasn't Kazuki's. It was another man's ring… The sense of guilt of wearing someone else's ring other than Kazuki's never left him for a moment.
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Asaka's silver station wagon finally pulled up at the driveway. When Wataru got out to get a clearer view of the house, he hung his mouth wide open. This certainly isn't what I was expecting…
In front of him stood a massive traditional Japanese home that aired with elegance and refinery. He gulped a bit as a few attendants rushed out of the gate and hurried to Asaka's side. "Masanobu-sama," one of them spoke. "Welcome home. It's been a long time since you came here." "Yeah, it's been a long time too, Sato," Asaka responded, brushing back his dark brown bangs. "Is obaasan home?"
"Yes she is. She's very excited about the omiai. Um… forgive me for asking, but is he…?" the servant turned to Wataru who suddenly felt self-conscious and tried to hide behind the door of the car. Asaka smiled. "Yes he is. And I expect him to be treated with utmost care, Sato. Wataru-kun, shall we?" he extended his hand to the shy young man, who uneasily accepted it, a blush creeping up his cheeks.
Once they passed through the gate, Wataru saw a beautiful garden layered with healthy green grass, seasonal flowers, strategically placed rocks, and a pond with a small graphite pavilion placed in the center like a garnish. Asaka ushered him into the house. He quietly followed the elder man as they both stopped at the genkan where they took off their shoes. They passed through the hallways, Wataru following Asaka's back, until he felt the man coming to a halt, nearly bumping into him.
"Asaka-san, what's wrong?"
When he received no reply, he peered from behind Asaka to look at what the elder man was looking at. There, standing in front of them, was a woman riddled with age yet still holding a certain beauty, her hair filled with grays and whites, small wrinkles forming around her eyes, her neck and her hands that were peeking from the sleeves of the kimono she wore. "You finally came home, Masanobu," her voice was stern but not cold. Asaka regarded her for a while before replying, "It's been a while, obaasan."
Obaasan? Wataru thought. So she's the granny who wants to marry off Asaka.
The old woman shifted her glance from her grandson to the young man standing a few millimeters behind him. "Is he the one?" she spoke, her voice still containing a certain edge. Asaka nodded. "Yes, he's my boyfriend, obaasan." Wataru flinched a bit at that remark, but he stiffened even more when Asaka leisurely wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "His name is Fujii Wataru. He's the underclassman of Shohei-san's brother."
"Shohei-san? That's a bit of a long degree. How is it then that you met?"
"He is particularly close with Shohei-san's brother. He often came to see him during our club projects, and that's how we met."
"I see… Well then, Masanobu. You don't expect to attend this omiai dressed like that, do you? Go on and freshen up. I've asked Sato to lay out the clothes for you."
"Of course, obaasan." Asaka made a move to leave with his arm still slung around Wataru. "Wait," the old woman spoke. "You can leave him with me." The brunette regarded his grandmother uneasily, as if unsure whether or not to abide by those wishes. Wataru, sensing the elder man's distress, quickly detached himself from him "It's all right, Asaka-san," he spoke. "I'll be fine. You go ahead and change."
A brief hesitation flashed in Asaka's eyes but, finally, a small smile appeared on his lips as he patted Wataru gently on the head. "All right, Wataru-kun. Well then, I'll see the both of you later." As he took his leave, Wataru couldn't help but feel uneasy at being left alone with the old woman.
She must be really frustrated at finding out her grandson is interested in men.
This had been one of the reasons why Wataru and Kazuki never go public with their relationship—only a handful of people whom they trusted really knew about it. Homosexual relationships are still frowned upon. Although Japan is becoming more and more liberal nowadays, most people still feel uneasy towards gay romances.
Ah, if only life was like that of manga and fiction…
"Fujii Wataru, is it?" the old woman spoke. Wataru instantly perked, scratching the back of his head out of nervousness. "Um… yes. It's, uh… nice to meet you, um… Asaka-obaasan…" "Please," she interrupted. "Just call me 'Shiori'. Having people besides family call me 'obaasan' makes me feel a hundred times older. Do I really look that old?" Wataru was taken aback by this sudden change in mood, and swiftly shook his head. "N—No, of course not! Sh—Shiori-san…" The name felt awkward on his lips, but the uncertainty quickly washed away when he saw a small smile on her wrinkled face. "This way, please, Fujii-san. Let us speak at a more appropriate location."
Once again, Wataru was led about the hallways, stopping at a shoji sliding door. When pulled open, he saw a washitsu room that had a view of the garden, furnished with wonderful old Japanese trinkets. "Come in," Shiori spoke. "I've ordered for tea to be served in this room. This is where the omiai will be held," "Oh," Wataru merely uttered. That explains the extravagance.
Once seated on the tatami mats with a cup of tea in hand, Wataru couldn't help but notice himself being scrutinized by the woman from head to toe. He tried his best o avert his gaze, or focus his attention to anything other than the older woman seated in front of him. But her gaze kept piercing him like a spear.
Now, I definitely know where Asaka-san got his talent of staring at people. This thought came to him as he remembered his first encounter with Masanobu in the café he and Kazuki frequented. No words were exchanged, but he had definitely felt Asaka's strong and fierce gaze upon him at that time.
An awkward silence continued to reign between the two and, just as Wataru had come to the conclusion that this old woman hated him, she began to giggle and break into an amused laugh. "You," she said. "You are really cute. I can see why Masanobu prefers you."
"Eh?" Wataru asked dumbfounded. But the old woman's knowing gaze seemed to tell him everything.
"I have no idea why my grandson would go through all this trouble, but it seems he really dislikes me matching him with another. I truly apologize for having to drag you into this."
"P—Pardon?"
A warm smile spread across the old woman's features that Wataru found it hard to believe that this was the same person glancing so sternly at Asaka earlier. "I know," she continued. "I've always known about Masanobu's relationships with other people. And I also have a knack of figuring out how people think about him. Though he introduced you to me as his boyfriend, the truth is you are far from that, correct?"
"You mean you… figured it out? How?"
"Earlier when Masanobu referred to you as his boyfriend, you flinched as if not liking the idea. And then you stiffened as he put his arm around you. If the both of you have been dating for as long as he claims it to be, then that act of affection of his would come natural, wouldn't it?"
"……"
"But you looked as if you were just being forced into the idea. I sensed your restlessness and immediately came with the conclusion 'Ah, that's what my Masanobu is planning.' Really devious of him, isn't it?"
Wataru just stared in stunned silence at the woman's point of reasoning. The ability of women's intuition and deduction is truly a scary thing. She is probably the fifth woman who so easily read into him. The first being Karin who had read his frustration as jealousy when he displayed immense concern on giving a gift to Kazuki; the second was Toko who, just by looking at a picture of Wataru that Kazuki secretly kept, quickly deduced her cousin's apparent infatuation on the younger boy.
The third would most probably be Ookusa Miho, his junior from school who had taken his ring hostage a year ago. Though she did see him and Kazuki kissing, she summed up the amount of feelings the boys had for each other. The fourth, and most amazing, one is Takako. At the age of five, she was able to distinguish a joke-kiss from a real one.
Truly, women's intuition is something to be feared. Or is it because Wataru was just plain transparent…?
"Um, then… If you're already aware of it, then there's no need to go through with this, right?"
"No. The omiai will still proceed."
"But, you said so yourself that Asaka-san doesn't like the idea!"
"I know. But I am more interested in why he brought you."
Wataru perked a bit at hearing this—curiosity evident on his face. Sensing this, Shiori continued to explain, "Even though my grandson opposes the idea of an omiai, he would never bring just anyone here. Even if the other party were extremely stubborn and determined, he'd never actually ask a random person to come. When he'd declared that he already had a boyfriend, I had expected him to take that remark back today and admit to his lie. But he didn't and instead brought you. So that makes me interested."
"Interested in what?"
"In how he truly feels about you, and you about him."
"Eh?"
"You greatly resemble someone that Masanobu had once greatly treasured more than anything in this world. He truly mourned her loss and went about for days like a dead person."
"You mean about Yuina-san?"
"So he's told you about her. Yes, he truly loved Yuina-san, but their break-up came as quite of a shock to him. Even more so when he heard news of her sudden death. Ever since then, he's never engaged in a real relationship. He'd date around, yes. But he never really settled with anyone. Which makes me really wonder about you. Aside from Yuina, you are the only other person he'd brought to this place."
"……"
"Since his parents are always abroad, I express great concern over him as his grandmother. I had hoped that this omiai will finally have him move on from Yuina and truly settle with someone he likes. But if he opposes me with this charade of his, then I'd certainly want to see how everything plays out."
"Um… excuse me for asking, but… you're not a bit disturbed… that I'm… I mean, your grandson is…" He didn't finish, but she probably understood what he was trying to say.
"What my grandson is, is entirely up to him. As much as I hate is choice of orientation, I can't really seem to hate you."
"…Why not?"
Shiori took a small sip from her cooling tea, then setting back the cup down with a tiny clink resounding in Wataru's ears. "Because," she finally spoke. "You radiate with such honesty and sincerity that one could only wish to find in a person. Even when I first saw you in the hallway, that's the kind of impression I got. And for that reason, I'd understand why Masanobu would prefer you over whatever girl I pick."
"But," she stressed. "I still won't back down from this challenge he presented to me. If this affair he has with you is one-sided, then I will still push for him to marry the girl I have in mind. In other words, Fujii-san, it is not only Sayuri whom you will convince, but I as well."
A sly grin crept up the old woman's lips, tugging her wrinkles to the side of her cheeks, and Wataru felt extremely uneasy.
"Wataru-kun? So this is where you two went." The shoji doors slid open to reveal Asaka clad in a white classic suit that, in Wataru's opinion, strangely suited him.
"Masanobu," Shiori spoke. "Why didn't you put on the hakama I had laid out?"
"It makes me feel itchy. Besides, don't I look handsome in this? Right, Wataru-kun?" He closed the door behind him and scooted over to the young man's side.
Wataru quickly averted his gaze, a blush creeping up his cheeks. It's not like I didn't think he looked handsome. I just thought about how Kazuki would look like in those clothes. The image practically burned in his mind, enough so that he might pass out.
"Wataru-kun," Asaka spoke again, much more alluring this time. "Do I look handsome?" The blood practically rushed to his head all at once, making him feel dizzy. "Y—Yes," he stammered, not noticing the amused glint in Shiori's eyes.
Masanobu was about to speak again when the sound of pounding feet filled their ears. "Ojousan! Please wait!" the voice of an elder man called out. In the next instant, the doors slid open again, this time, to reveal a petite girl with creamy white skin, hair as black as the night that reached up to her waist. She wore a pure white kimono filled with floral designs of pink and lavender. When Wataru saw her, he instantly thought that she resembled a fairytale princess like Snow White.
"Good evening, Sayuri," Shiori spoke.
Sayuri?
In the next instant, the young woman had dashed forward into a leap and managed to sling her small arms around Asaka's neck.
"Masanobu-sama!" she said. "I've missed you!!"
Wataru hung his head in shock and confusion. Did that girl just pounce on him? And what was that "Masanobu-sama!" about? It oddly reminded Wataru of the countless of girls from his school who used to hound around Yuichi calling him "Kazuki-sama!" like lovesick puppies.
"Hongo-san," Asaka's voice broke the tension. "You can let go now." Sayuri pouted, her red lips pursing together. "There's no need to be so formal to me, Masanobu-sama. 'Sayuri' is just fine." Asaka managed to free himself from the young girl's grasp and set a firm distance between them. "As much as I'm honored by that, I can't," he said. "My boyfriend can get rather jealous." Wataru hadn't realized that he had been referring to him, until he saw a deathly aura radiate from Sayuri, and he instantly became the subject of her venomous glare.
"So, it's you," she practically spat the words out. "You're the one who's taking my Masanobu-sama away from me."
"Huh?"
"You made him weird!"
"Now, wait a sec! I didn't—!"
"You… You awful, disgusting homosexual creep!"
"HONGO!!" Asaka snapped, turning his own venomous gaze at her. "You had better watch your language, and don't forget whose roof you're under!"
"I agree," Shiori finally voiced her presence, causing the three people to whip their heads towards her. There was certain authoritative tone in her voice, and it was layered with ice. "Sayuri, I hope you understand that this omiai is being conducted because I said so. As the current head of this household, I will not tolerate rude and disrespectful outbursts, such as the one you did, under my roof. If you do, I will cancel this omiai and deem you are not suitable for my grandson."
It wasn't a threat. It was a fact. And upon knowing this, Sayuri immediately bowed her head in deep apology. She apologized to Masanobu and then to Shiori, but when it came to Wataru, she turned her head away.
"Well then," the old woman spoke out. "Shall we begin?"
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Things had started awkward, but it eventually shifted to a much easier atmosphere. Wataru was surprised that he could even keep up with the conversation, but that was probably attributed to Asaka constantly making sure that he wasn't left out. He'd crack a few jokes once in a while, and it would earn laughs and chuckles from both Asaka and Shiori. Even Sayuri found it impossible to ignore Wataru's humor. By the time they knew it, darkness had enveloped the night sky.
"Ah! I can't believe the time!" Wataru exclaimed, glancing at the clock. "It's that late? I have to go home and…"
"Nonsense," Shiori spoke. "You must join us for dinner. Please, I insist."
"Um…" he hesitated for a while before finally continuing. "I suppose dinner won't hurt. But I have to call my family in case they get worried."
"Of course. The telephone's just down the hallway."
Wataru got up and excused himself, and followed the old woman's directions. As he got to the telephone, he quickly dialed the numbers of his home, hearing it ring three times before someone finally answered.
"Fujii Residence," the voice on the receiver spoke.
"Karin? It's me."
"Wataru-chan! Where are you? Do you know how late it is?"
"I know. Listen, Karin. I'm over at Asaka-san's and…"
"Wait. You said 'at Asaka-san's' and not 'with Asaka-san' right? I'm just checking…"
"Look, I'll explain when I get home. I'll be having dinner with them so…"
"Them? Who's 'them'?"
"Karin…"
"I know, I get it. You won't be having dinner here. But what time will you be home?"
"Uh…"
"Anyway, you've got a key don't you? Gosh, Wataru-chan! You're lucky that our parents are out on a trip. If they ever find out…"
"Thanks, Karin. You're one in a million."
He hung up before she could give another rebuttal. He was lucky that their parents were away. If they weren't, he'd never hear the end of it. As he was about to turn back, he felt a shadow looming over him. He turned around to meet Asaka's smoldering eyes once again.
"A—Asaka-san…"
Asaka approached him and, for some reason, Wataru began to instinctively back up against the wall. Before long, Asaka was practically right in front of him, his right arm leaning against the wall just above Wataru's head. The awkwardness of the situation was beginning to get to him, and he swore he could feel Asaka's body heat despite the distance.
"Asaka-san…?"
"Wataru-kun…"
"……??"
"Stay here tonight."
To be continued…
*0nLytH3R1nGF1nG3rkN0w5z tH3uNT0ucH3dR1nG*Japanese Terms:
Obaasan – Grandmother
Genkan – where the guests and everyone else takes off their shoes before entering the house
Washitsu – refers to the traditional Japanese room that usually have tatami mats and white shoji screen doors.
Tatami – the mats used to cover the wooden floors. It's like a carpet but it's much more comfortable that you can practically fall asleep on it.
Shoji – the screen that is used in place of curtains. It is usually put on sliding doors.
Hakama – Men's kimono
Ojousan – Literally means "young lady". It is often used to refer to young noble girls. In this case, Sayuri comes from a rich family, so she's called "ojousan".
--chan - it's very cute way to refer to someone. It's usually used on small children, cute girls, and REALLY close friends. But some guys take this offensively so it can also be used as provocation. In the Drama CD of OtRFK, I heard Karin refer to Wataru as "Wataru-chan."
Ha! Ha! Is it cruel to leave things hanging? Many thanks to those who provided me translations of the novels. Now I can finally read them! Ooooh. Isn't Wataru so lucky to have hot men constantly roaming around him?
BUT!! It will always be Kazuki x Wataru. As much as I think Asaka is dreamy, he should leave our couple alone. Same goes for Shohei.
Next chapter: Terms and Conditions. Rules are laid down, and the stakes have gotten higher!
