Chapter Ten

Wrapped Around His Arms

Kahoko was drowning. Water started entering her body. She never learned how to swim. She should not have walked at the edge in the first place, knowing that she she's very much careless. She could feel the burning chest pain and consciousness was slipping her, her eyes were slowly closing and she's going to be submerged under the deep blue lake.

Is this my fatal end? But I saw Tsukimori… Would he save me? I know he's not the person, who'll just leave someone dying, is he? She was brought deep down to the lake; she had submitted herself to the waters. However, before she could finally close her eyes a figure splashed into the waters. It painted a smile on her face.

Tsukimori… She thought. The guy hugged her with his right arm, pulling her closer to his chest. He swam ashore, heavily breathing. Saving Kahoko almost caused him his life. His golden hair glistened with the droplets of water raining down through those expensive strands.

"Tsukimori-san, I know you've been there." He announced. Tsukimori who stood there just watching, motionless, was surprised to know that the man was aware of his silent presence. He stepped into the light.

"Leave her." Len ordered.

"Sorry, but I got to her before you did. If you want to have her you should move faster." There was a double meaning in his sentence. Len was aware of that but he kept quite and just glared at him.

"I rescued her, I have the right to borrow her for tonight. Do not worry, Tsukimori-san, whatever I borrow I return it in one piece." He humored as he carried Kahoko, bridal-style towards his BMW, which was parked just outside the park.

Len could not believe himself, but what can he do? The man had responded her he could. There goes Kahoko again. He thought and again loneliness ate Tsukimori.

Before driving away the guy did CPR to Kahoko. He was well trained in giving first-aid medications whenever that is and whatever it is. Kahoko was too weak to open her eyes, she felt dizzy and wanted to sleep. But before she could go back to slumber, "Arigatou, Tsukimori-kun." She articulated with her eyes still closed. That took her savior aback but he did not pay much attention to that. For now he was satisfied to have rescued her.

You are too naïve, Kahoko, thinking that a mine like Tsukimori Len would save you. But I admire such attitude of yours, sweet dreams then. He planted a kiss on her forehead and placed a pillow below her head. Kahoko was smiling sweetly.

As the sun's warm rays hit Kahoko's face, last night's event flashed back in her thoughts- Len playing a piece, she, slipping into the water and drowning, then Len had saved her. The last image that retained in her thoughts was that of Len, bleak and expressionless. To her surprise, she blushed, not know why she did so.

He saved me… She became more giddy and excited when she heard Claire de Lune in piano. It was not Tsuchuira's style but it surely was familiar to her. She remembered the day when she had visited Len in his mansion. She heard this same style from him. No doubt, it was his. The scent of brewed coffee flooded the room. The same brewed coffee they had shared in their Venice escapade. Could I be in his house again? Could he have prepared this? But she shoved it out of her thoughts, not too feel like a feeler. Kahoko turned to her right where the music came form, hoping that she would find Len playing on a Grande piano. That image of him made her smile sweetly. But to her dismay, there stood no piano, instead there was a television. On the T.V. was a 12-year old Len Tsukimori, a cute but bleak boy he was.

Where is Tsukimori-kun? Is he trying to criticize himself? Kahoko asked in her thoughts, wondering why he played the CD. He looked her left shoulder but still there was no Len, instead there was a terrace, having only those expensive beautifully furnished Italian furniture. What caught her attention next was the photo frame on the desk table at the bedside. And it showed no Tsukimori.

"So you're already awake." A voice echoed through the room. Kahoko jerked and shifted her gaze away the portrait, he heart was beating fast, scared and nervous. The voice was obviously not Tsukimori's.

"Who are you?" She demanded, her voice cracked and dried. He smiled sweetly and walked towards her. As soon as he was at her bedside, he knelt with his right knee, the way a true gentleman should do before a lady. He got her right hand and kissed it. She was too shocked to even react.

"I'm Kaji Aoi." He introduced himself.

"Where's Tsukimori-kun?" " She withdrew her hand from his gentle clasp.

"At his mansion, practicing his violin as usual." He uttered.

"Orusai! [Shut Up!]" She snubbed. He smirked at her reaction. He liked that expression of hers.

"By the way, you look good on that pink pajama." He complimented.

PAJAMA? She shouted in her thoughts, her right brow raised up. She stood on the floor and looked at herself, indeed she was wearing a pink-laced pajama.

"Huh? You pervert! How dare you!" She was throwing pillows towards him, not listening to what he has to say.

"Chotto Matte… I… I didn't…" He tried holding her hand but as soon as he attempted to touch her, he got a snappy slap from her. It marked a big red spot on his head. It took Kahoko aback, she stopped, and her eyes fixed on him, wide open.

"You should not have dared to touch me." She uttered.

"I just wanted to tell you that I asked my servants to change your clothes because you were soaking wet." It made Kahoko pause, silently thinking about the mistake she has done.

I guess I was too paranoid… I jumped into conclusions without thinking… Stupid you… She scolded herself in her thoughts.

"Gome Nasai Aoi-san." She apologized. Kaji smiled.

"Don't worry, I've forgiven you long ago." His sentence bothered her; his expression was disturbing.

"Could I have my clothes now? I need to go home. She asked, her tone a lot kinder than that of earlier.

"Just promise me you'll have breakfast after you get dressed up." He uttered. Brewed Coffee… That was what Kahoko thought, remembering the scent that woke her up.

"Brewed Coffee then." She articulated with a smile, that same smile that made Kaji remember an event in the past and that smile that captured Len Tsukimori.

"I insist you pair it with a pancake. I am proud to tell you that our mixture here is very much delicious." That convinced Kahoko. She agreed. After dressing back into her clothes in the comfort room, she joined Kaji who had prepared the breakfast at the terrace. It was a beautiful view and it had a good ambiance. They talked about a lot of things.

I guess it's just me. She thought.

"Kahoko, I'll still be seeing you, okay." He was too confident.

"Uh… o... okay." She was not sure. Japan is too big for them to meet again but it is possible.

"Don't worry, we'll still see each other. I'm your savior in the first place." He uttered and that surprised Kahoko. She did not get what he meant and that lead her to remembering about Len.

"No. Len saved me." She defended her friend. "Where is he anyway?"

"Don't expect him to come; he would not. He does not care about you." Kaji looked away.

"Huh? How can you say that? You don't know, Tsukimori-kun!" She was raged with fury, her brows meeting at the center.

"Why? Do you really know him? How could you say that he really cared for you when he left you drowning in the first place?" He uttered. That surprised Kahoko. How could he say that?

"No… He saved me." She insisted.

"Kahoko, I'm really sorry to tell you but I have to crush your hopes, the image you've painted in your thoughts are nothing but mere dreams. He was not the person who plunged into the waters to save you." She refused to believe that.

"N… No…" It did not make sense.

"Why would he plunged into that water for you? Do you really think, he'll risk his own life for anyone else aside himself? Tsukimori Len is a foolish self-centered man." He uttered. Things made sense now. She remembered the light she saw from the image that plunged into the waters, it was his golden hair… She hated to admit but Len was not the person who plunged into the waters to save her.

"I'm sorry, Kahoko." He apologized. Without words to say to him, she stormed out of Kaji's mansion. She could not understand what she was feeling and what she was thinking. She had so many inquiries. Things made sense now and questions had aroused. But she could not get any answers to those questions. That made her busy, too succumbed in her thoughts and that made her not to see the blue Volvo approaching, it was honking at her but no matter how loud it was she heard nothing. Kahoko just realized the danger when it was already near. She stood frozen, her nerves would not respond no matter what her brain commanded.

"Aaah…" She shouted, her thoughts flashing Tsukimori's image. A loud screeching sound followed next… Then everything felt silent.

She felt her adrenaline rushing vehemently, her heart beating faster than the way it should be. Her bones had gone weak, but there was someone that had supported her. They were warm hands that felt so familiar around her waist. That sweet honey scent reminded her of him…

"Daijobu ka? [Are you okay]" His voice confirmed it al. She looked up and saw that familiar golden hair. She then rested her head on his chest, feeling safe once again.

"Arigatou, Kaji" She thanked him. Slowly, her tears started dropping from her eyes. It was a sign of mixed emotions: frustration, lament and relief. He hugged her tighter, letting her feel how safe she is and she did. She felt safer than any other day around this stranger's arms…

Prying golden orbs were watching from a building far from where they stood clasped around each other's arms. He smiled grimly at the sight of Kahoko wrapped around another man.

"You are such a hassle, Hino…" He leaned back to his black leather chair, putting away his telescope. "You are mine forever."

Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I extend a million thank you to all my reviewers: himeno08, lemon-linen [without you, I would not have seen that mistake, thanks so much], garnet, moonlight nocturne, gizelle-chan, oozyfan97, lindamilanda27. It really means a lot to me. And thank you to all those who added my story into their favorite list.

Chapter 11

From Afar

Kaji and Kahoko becomes closer and the more they become closer, Len and Kahoko grows more apart. Who is Kaji? What is he up to? How would Yunoki deal with this?

I hope to see you in the next chapter.