Chapter 11
Denials and News
The night is getting late and the romantic dinner of two certain couple-to-be at the rooftop is nearing to an end.
"Ne Toushirou?", Karin asked to start another round of conversation before the dinner ends.
"Hmm?", He just said looking at her straight in the eyes.
"Why do men give flowers to express their love?"
Toushirou just raised his eyebrows and smirked "Why do you think?"
"Don't know, that's why I'm asking" She said with a pout.
"….."He does not want to answer but she gave her an expectant look.
"Hmm, let me see, its just by instinct I think" He said not knowing what to answer exactly. 'that's a tricky question'
"Ehh, just that?"
"Not really"
"Then why?"
Toushirou started thinking of what really for him the answer is. Flowers for a woman for him are sign of affection that are pure instinct for a man, yet now his contemplating what the cause or meaning behind that instinct probably be. He looked at her, she still looked expectant for his answer, he wanted to satisfy her curiosity, to make her happy, then as if a light bulb is switched on, in his head and he answered her.
"Men give flowers for women, because most of the women have a soft heart around flowers, it made them happy and felt that the one who gave them that, love them that much or they felt like they are very special to the man. You see, men just wanted the best thing that what their woman would make her happy, and flowers are one of the known and best things for that. Love makes a person happy, thus men consider flowers as representative of their love for their woman, because flowers make a woman happy." He explained to her, while she listened to him intently.
She thought about his answer and another question popped on her mind. She loved testing his logic and understanding of things, one of the qualities he liked about him.
"Oh I see, but flowers do die out right, does that mean that a man's love also dies out easily same as the flowers?" she asked wondering, what could he may answer to that
"Ahmm, I don't think so, but I can think of an answer to that scenario you're saying, it can be like—"
"To give a plastic or paper flower to a woman and give her the meaning that the same as the said 'flower' his love will also not die, right?" She interrupted, already expecting him to answer that.
"Y-Yes, you can say something like that" he said sweat dropping on the seriousness on her face.
"Yet, if you will going to read in another point of view or interpretation, giving fake flowers to represent love, also means that your love is also a fake" She said sounding a little bitter on the last part. She smirked on the inside.
"Then what do you think is the real answer then?" what's gotten into her
"Oh, I don't know, people do have different interpretations anyways" she said and smiled at him. She liked his answers though a little disappointed that he can't answer any further.
"Yes you do have a point; it really depends on how the couple could interpret each others effort on showing their love for each other" He said, he's actually relieved that they stopped talking about the complicated topic.
After dinner, Toushirou took her home. Yuzu was actually still on her date with Ryuu, so Karin was left alone in their home. Toushirou was actually reluctant on leaving her alone and tried to stay with her until Yuzu arrives, but she convinced him to go home and rest, since he have been very busy during the past few days.
On the way back to his home, Toushirou is still thinking of the conversation they have about the flowers. He is still unsatisfied about the unanswered question. It also actually got his curiosity of what would be the safe way of giving flowers as a symbol of love with out a negative interpretation.
The next morning
"Good morning Yuzu" Karin greeted her sister sleepily.
She just got out of her bed do her morning rituals and got out of her room to meet her sister and have breakfast with her. Although after doing her usual morning rituals, she is still sleepy, she actually did not have that much of sleep, because her mind is actually thinking about a certain white-haired man, and that kept her wake that night, she may have slept probably before dawn.
And because she is still sleepy, she just greeted her sister like normal, yet not knowing the different things on her surrounding, she just know that Yuzu is arranging or holding something.
"Oh, good morning too Karin-chan" She greeted back walking to her. And that is the time Karin actually noticed what Yuzu actually is arranging no scratch that holding, and what is new on her surroundings.
"What happened here? Is this one of Ryuu's morning greeting?" Karin said dumbstruck about what she is seeing. The living room, where she and her sister is actually is full of different flowers in different colors, sizes and arrangements, every corner has actually two or three, there are flowers also in the kitchen/dining room, and actually also beside her bedroom door.
"(chuckle) No actually these are for you" Yuzu said smiling at her sister's reaction.
"What is this, our house became a flower sho—wait what do you mean these are for me?" Karin said, confusion is clearly visible in the face and tone.
"Here" Yuzu handed her a light-red sealed enveloped that clearly have a card inside.
The envelope is addressed as
To: Ms. Karin Kurosaki
"Who is it from?"
"Open it"
"Fine, here"
The card inside says:
.
Good Morning Karin,
Flowers for you as a symbol/ representative of my love,
If it dies out already, just tell me,
I will replace it with a new one, as I refresh my love for you,
Toushirou
P.S. That is actually my answer to your scenario of flowers, last night.
It may sound cheesy, but hey it kept me all night to think that….^_^
Love you, see you at work.
"Aww, sooo cute" Yuzu said teasing Karin, and actually touched.
"Yuzu" Karin said blushing about the message 'so he's actually thinking of an answer to that, he never really leave an unanswered question, as expected from him' Karin just giggled about her thought.
Two months have passed and still Toushirou is courting Karin. No one actually knows why Karin is still not giving her magical 'Yes' to be Toushirou's girlfriend, yet both admitted that they are in a mutual understanding stage of relationship.
During the first week after the confession, they are actually trying to keep it low and be professionals on their work, but it became hard, especially on Karin side, because their co-workers are teasing them, treating them like high schools in love. How did their co-workers know about it, probably because a certain someone (cough Rangiku cough) accidentally blurted it out or specifically asked Karin how the dinner have went, in a very loud voice, being excited as the certain someone is. And that started it.
At work, Karin and Toushirou became closer and also sometimes awkward with each other. Sometimes when they are discussing a project where both of them have their own views that contradict the other, their normal bickering before became a, bickering then teasing, then Toushirou will looked at her in the eyes, amusement showing from his eyes, then Karin will blush, then awkwardness, then back to bickering and teasing again. This actually became their routine, the others actually sometimes wondered why they never get tired of teasing each others imperfection that they liked/loved about each other, but they are in-love anyways, that sums it all. And about the flowers that Toushirou promised to replace when it dies out, he actually kept his promise, even if Karin refused to tell him if he needed to replace it already, anyways Toushirou have Yuzu to update him about that. About Yuzu and Ryuu, they are backed together already.
"Karin-chan, what are you doing?" Yuzu said looking at Karin who is sitting at carpeted floor, while using the coffee table as a working table, papers are scattered in the table and on the spot of the floor near her, radio is open, and music are played by the radio station that is tuned.
"Work" Karin answered not looking at Yuzu, her eyes is glued to the paper she is holding.
"That many?"
"Yup, since Toushirou is out to Sapporo for the last 3 days, I have been the one to make, check and modify all of this stuff"
"Oh, he's going back today right?"
"Yup, he called me earlier"
"When are you going to give him your 'Yes'?"
"Huh"
"You love him, yet you're still making him wait this much"
"No, I don't think I love him yet, I just liked him"
"Yah, you like him so much, that is considered in the stage love, Karin" Yuzu said sarcastically while rolling her eyes
"It's not like that, it is somewhat I don't as if something is missing, I can't explain my real feelings for him"
"But you liked him a lot"
"Yes"
"You just don't know if it is love already and not like or infatuation only"
"Yes, It's my feelings, I will know if I am really in-love with him"
"Karin, most people that are close to you, are the one who can say that you are in love, because sometimes one's self is oblivious to the feelings that they have"
"I don't know, how can you say that, care to explain, how can you say I am already in-love with him?"
"Because, you never smile like you do with him, you never had the patience on people who kept teasing you, like you do with him, you never been that humorous with others than you are with him, you constantly agree to him, even if you first thought that you disagree, you always ended up agreeing, you are comfortable on talking with him, even if it is the thing you never want to talk to other people about, you never get bored with him, you never run out of things to talk too, you love how you slowly know every detail of the things he likes and dislikes, and discovers the things that he wouldn't usually let others know, and most importantly you love being with him, you're happy to know the things about him that you're the only one who knows, you always think of him before you sleep, and misses him if you don't see him for only days just like his 3 day trip right now, and—"
"Enough, Yuzu" Am I really like that?
"But it's true!"
"(sigh) how can you analyze that much?"
"Duh, I'm a nurse and doctor to be, and also I have studied psychology, I need to know how to analyze people to make them comfortable and realize things, I need to be approachable in any way"
"and why being in-love included in there?"
"Duh, Karin that is why, there are love doctors"
"……" Karin just became silent, she does not want to argue with her sister further.
"Oh, well if you don't give him your 'yes' sooner, there will be a time that you will regret it,"
""
"(sigh) I will be in the kitchen to make snacks"
"okay"
Am I really like that, yes I am happy with Toushirou, but there is something missing, that I wanted to know, to fill the missing hole. I don't know, I felt like he's still holding back, that he might be still in-love with, wait what am I thinking I know he loves me, he have proven it already by the time we spent with each other, but I don't know, there is something missing, or something that is keeping us, a wall that we can't get through to reach each other. To freely love each other.
"For people in denial stage right know, or confused of their feelings here is a song for you" the DJ announced on the radio, and then music is played.
.
I refused to believe that it could be so,
There's no way that I'm in love with you,
I lied to myself that it's just a petty jealousy,
That I must be feeling lonely, but I cannot hide it anymore.
Karin is remembering the time when she got jealous of Momo 'What is with this song?'
I think I love you
But it must be so, cause I miss you
Without you,
I cannot do anything,
And you are always on my mind,
So seeing this, it must be,
I was unaware,
But now I can see that
Your presence have delved deeply into my heart.
She's remembering the time they where in Sapporo, how she liked when it's obvious he is jealous when she and Ryuu are together. And now how she misses him that much because Toushirou needs to go visit the Sapporo project alone, as much as she wanted to come but she can't.
We are not meant for each other, and being friends is the best thing for us,
There isn't a single thing we have in common,
So I claimed there's no way we can be lovers,
But I don't want to make excuses anymore.
"Yes it's true we don't have any single thing in common that's why we always bicker" She remembered their biggest argument, about Ryuu's flowers, and their constant argument on projects.
I think I love you
But it must be so, cause I miss you
Without you,
I cannot do anything,
And you are always on my mind,
So seeing this, it must be,
I was unaware,
But now I can see that
Your presence have delved deeply into my heart.
She's now remembering the rooftop dinner, and how he serenades her. She loved how he managed to be that romantic even if he is known as an ice cube. An ice cube that melts when she is around. She loved how she can make him do things that he never does and vice versa.
Why didn't I know that it was you,
Why couldn't I see it when it was right in front of me,
It was beside me all along,
But only now can I see love.
"Karin-chan, do you want—" Yuzu called entering again the living room, but she did not finish what she is going to say, because she is watching Karin's reaction. Karin is staring at the radio, with the expression of confusion and realization, clearly obvious that she is affected by the song. I see the song hit a bulls-eye, hurry Karin realize your feelings, I'm happy for you. She just lean on the wall near the entrance to kitchen silently watching her sister.
I think I love you
But it must be so, cause I miss you
Without you,
I cannot do anything,
And you are always on my mind,
So seeing this, it must be,
I was unaware,
But now I can see that
Your presence have delved deeply into my heart.
.
'could it be possible that I actually really love him, Yuzu was right all along'
.
"Looks like the song, hit a bull's eye" Yuzu said bringing Karin back from her reverie.
"Huh, what? How long have you been in there?" Karin asked, surprised and embarrassed that Yuzu is there and saw her reaction. She's an open-book to her.
"You know what I mean"
"Yah, fine I admit, I love him, I'm happy with him, everything you said earlier is true" may be I'm just afraid of having another relationship, being the latest as a disaster, but now I think I'm ready, may be the thing that is missing is for me to realize that Toushirou is different from my ex
"I know, so when are you going to tell him then?"
"When he comes back"
"I'm happy for you Karin"
"Thank you Yuzu, you helped me a lot" Karin hugged her sister
"We are sorry to interrupt this program, but we have an important news. The "el crucero del hielo" a name of a cruise from Sapporo, have been confirmed to have sank half way in its destination, earlier this mid-morning to noon coast guards are already trying to rescue passengers. The cruise management—Aqua cruises and police are still trying to think what could be the problem is, but they suspect that the problem must be because the ship is still in not condition to cruise, the management admitted that the "el crucero del hielo" just got out from repairs, and probably the repaired parts are still unstable and gave in. Police are still in investigation.
Announcement: to all relatives and love ones of the passengers, the Aqua cruises, is already trying to contact you and inform about the possibility of your relatives whereabouts. Relatives in Tokyo are going to be either notified personally or will receive a call. Thank you; let's pray for them to be safe" The DJ announced in the radio.
'What the el crucero del hielo sank, but why, no way' Karin thought. She felt her throat dried.
"Is something wrong Karin?"Yuzu asked, seeing the shocked face of her sister.
"T-That c-cruise, the el crucero del hielo is where Toushirou is riding back home" Karin said nervously.
"What you mean?"
Flashback
(This is a telephone conversation: Italic letters are Toushirou's in phone)
"Hey, Good morning" Karin said
"Good morning too, I'm going home"
"Really?"
"Yup, I'm on the pier already, I'll be riding the el crucero del hielo cruise"
"A cruise, are you going to be alright" Karin said remembering what happened on his parents before.
"Yes, no worries, I know it is not going to be the same as what you are thinking"
"(sigh) I know, just be safe ok, it's really is sad that the flights are fully booked, so you have to settle on cruise"
"I told you it's okay, anyways, it's actually funny in here"
"What do you mean?"
"Before they give you you're ticket they asked you to fill up some information"
"What information?"
"Contact person, in case of emergency, they actually have a good management here"
"Yah, most cruises does not do that, when there is emergency, relatives are to one who will contact the management, not the supposedly other way around"
"Even though, I know it will going to be alright, I putted your name there"
"What?"
"I said I putted your name there, if there is emergency concerning me they will contact you"
"But, why?"
"Because I want you the first one to know, anyways, there is nothing going to happen"
"Yah, I wish you your safety"
"I'll be going straight at your house when I arrive at Tokyo, I may arrived late afternoon"
"Okay, I'll ask Yuzu to prepare for snacks"
"Alright, I need to go now, bye love you"
"I know be safe Toushirou"
"Yes I will"
Then they both hang up.
End of Flashback
Ding Dong, Ding Dong (door bell ringing)
"Oh shit" Karin said worriedly
"What, why?" Yuzu asked confused
"Toushirou, putted my name on the contact person in case of emergency"Karin said, standing up, and hesitating to open the door or not.
"So you mean, it could probably a cruise staff?"
"yes"
Ding Dong. Ding Dong
This is my longest chapter ever, I did this because I failed to update last week.
Although I know you wont be satisfied because this is a cliffie, I still hope you like it….
Pls. review, till nxt chappie….