A/N:In the first paragraph where I have quoted North and South, the words in the brackets are the ones Saki strikes out with a pencil. Don't get confused now. :3

Feedback: Many thanks to ryokaori11 and ScriptAngel for their heartwarming reviews! You guys praised me so much that I'm tempted to show you what an asshole I am. Don't worry. I'm mean to everyone I like. Thanks again. :P

Disclaimer: I do not own City Hunter or its characters.

SINCE I SAW HER STANDING THERE

Chapter: 8

Sitting with her back straight as ever, Saki Makimura was smiling at a worn-out paperback in her hand. She had been reading North and South for the second time, while waiting between batches to teach. A particular paragraph struck her as rather relevant. She read on, with that smile still on her face, and made some corrections with her pencil.
Now, in Mr. (Thornton's) Onoda's face the (straight) thick brows fell over the clear deep-set eyes, which, (without) being unpleasantly sharp at times, seemed intent enough to penetrate into the very heart and core of what he was looking at. The lines in the face were few but firm, as if they were carved in marble, and lay principally about the eyes and lips, the latter of which were slightly compressed over a set of teeth so faultless and beautiful as to give the effect of sudden sunlight on clear water when the rare bright smile, coming in an instant and shining out of the eyes, changed the whole look from the severe and resolved expression of a man ready to do and dare everything, to the keen honest enjoyment of the moment, which is seldom shown so fearlessly and instantaneously except by children.
She put the curved tip of the pencil against the corner of her mouth, smiled yet again, and looked out of the window. He was away on business. Taiwan, Malaysia, China, India – four countries were going to be visited by him and Tadashi-san. When he had told her about this professional tour, they were lying beside each other on the bed.
"I will be back in five days", he had said.
She had asked,
"Will you not go sightseeing?"
"It is purely a business trip. Don't tell Tadashi that. He'll start making up excuses to not come"
"I won't"
He looked at her, unheeded and constant, and she began to feel the embarrassment of his close, loving scrutiny flushing her cheeks into a rosy warmth. Onoda-san was still looking at her when she turned her back to him and said 'Good night'. He did not reach his hand across the bed and pull her towards him, as was Hideyuki's habit in his sleep. When she awoke, she would find him sleeping peacefully but alert enough to let his slumber be revoked by one sound out of the ordinary. He would be on his side of the bed, never groaning or mumbling while asleep. She was amazed by this level of self-discipline.
And self-control.
If he indeed loved her as much as his actions over the years had proven and his furtive gaze recently had implied, he had an enormous amount of carnal restraint. She had nearly swooned when he had kissed her, and looked into his eyes eagerly when he had tried to kiss her again in the ballroom. No, he was not an impatient and passionate lover as Saeba-san (as per Kaori-san's experience) or as gentle and kind a lover as Hideyuki. He was testing her patience. When she came to the door to see him off to work last week, he had stalled for a moment longer in the doorway and asked her if there was anything she wanted. Eleven years of knowing the man, Saki could understand well what the twinkle in his eyes and the treacherous twitching of a corner of his mouth meant. She promptly said she wanted nothing from him at the moment. As of late, he had begun to pass his long, index finger along the length of his lips while pretending to be rapt in something he was reading. She would look away and laugh to herself as he tried to telepathically invite her to kiss him. By Onoda-ism, he had kissed her the first time and it was only just that she should initiate their next kiss.
"Makimura-san? Your students are here"
"Thank you. I will be there in a minute"
Saki would not give in so easily. And she was content with the way things were between them. There was no rush, no secrecy, and a calm which came to most relationships in the penultimate stages of life. As far as she was concerned, theirs was a happy marriage.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Have you done the assignment I gave you last week?"
She missed his voice and waking up three feet away from him. If only he didn't dislike answering private calls when he was working...
"...and we were studying subordinate clauses last time. Can anyone..."
Not that he would be irked by his wife calling him after four days of zero communication. Besides, she only had to wait for today. He would be home by tomorrow evening. If she didn't give in to the pleasure of seeing him again, he would definitely be the one to initiate their second kiss.
"Very good, Tsukomi-san. Now..."
Just one day and that assuredly uncomfortable party to be done with.

Saki's stepmother-in-law, whom the tabloids referred to as 'former beauty queen Madam Onoda', had asked her if she would like to accompany her to a party a close friend of hers was throwing for the success of her latest designs in jewellery. Our Saki was not one to deny an invitation by someone whom the man she loved treated as his mother, more so when she said -
"I believe I have been a trifle upset with Tsuyoshi for marrying below his position. But I can see how happy you make him. It is what a mother wants after all for her boy. Let's try to be friends, girl. Won't you come with me to the party? It will be fun for you to socialize more"
It was not fun. Saki had to face a galore of questions about her and Onoda-san from the curious guests, while Madam Onoda pretty much abandoned her.
"How did you two meet?"
"Oh, you were his tutor? A student-teacher romance – how naughty, Mrs. Onoda!"
"I bet Onoda-san gives you the best presents ever!"
When the little crowd around her burst into a laugh at some ridiculous joke, Saki excused herself from their presence and sought the nearest balcony or open window. The windows were shut for the smooth functioning of the newly installed air conditioners in the villa, but she found a balcony on the second floor.
"Oh Buddha", she panted against the railing.
Somehow she had escaped those gazelles, but she knew well they would seize her again if they found her. Also, the view from the balcony was pleasant. There was an artificial koi pond below, and there was the rose garden she had seen when entering the building. Many of the guests had commented with spite and envy at the expensive garden and decor. Saki wondered if Taiwan, Malaysia, China and India knew how jealous she was of them in the moment.
"May I have the pleasure of interrupting your reverie, Mrs. Onoda?"
Saki turned to look at the man who had joined her in the balcony. She needed just one glance to deduce that he was one of the gigolos which were in abundance at such rich, old women's parties. Aimi had hilariously taught her to identify them and to keep her distance.
"I thought a glass of sherry would match the lovely dress you have on"
He was holding two stemmed glasses, wearing a fine fitting expensive suit and an obscene amount of perfume. Saki pined for the faint but lingering smell of Onoda-san's fresh cologne.
"I am sorry. I do not drink"
She moved out of the balcony and the man hid his disappointment with a smile.
"Then I don't either"
He placed the two drinks on a passing waiter's tray. Saki turned and started walking briskly, trying to recall which way she had come up amidst the gaudy decorations and paper flowers on the walls. She glanced once at the door to her left and could not sense the footsteps catching up with hers. Before she could react, someone had pulled her up by the waist and thrown her into that room.
"No – mmmppp!"
She tried to push away the man with all her strength but he pressed his lips to hers in a cavernous way. Saki tried to tear her mouth away from him but he firmly kept his grip on the back of her head till she thought her skull would burst. Tears began to sting her eyes and suddenly, she recalled a memory she had forgotten years ago.
"All righty", she had wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and motioned Hideyuki to attack her, "Gimme your best shot, sailor"
He was smiling and shaking his head at her. The empty bottle of sake rolled towards his feet from hers. He said,
"I'm not sure self-defense is something you should learn when you are drunk"
"I can't hit somebody when my noggin's a-working"
"All right. Come here"
She did and Hideyuki turned her back towards him, placing his hands firmly on her waist.
"Now, when someone attacks you from behind, holds you – say, like this..."
Saki giggled as his hands cupped her breasts,
"You sure you're not horny yet?"
"I am sure", he hid his smile, "Pay attention. When someone holds you from behind, you need to bend forward – yes, like that – and jam your elbow in his stomach. Do it"
"Haii-yaah!"
Hideyuki moved away from her,
"Very good. You're a quick learner"
She turned to him with a fuzzy grin,
"Let's fuck now"
Hideyuki's eyebrows rose higher than they ever had and he gaped,
"Okaaaayyy. I thought I'd never hear you say that word but, this is good. Now focus, Saki"
"Sex. Now", she said.
"No. No, no, no. Hey!"
He moved away as she tried to tear his shirt apart and held her at bay by the shoulders. His face was near and above hers,
"Focus"
Saki grumbled something and took her position a few feet away from him. Hideyuki came to her and put his arms around her back.
"When someone attacks you from the front, his intention will most probably be to kiss you forcefully"
"Wait. How do you know so much about rapists' assault techniques?"
"Concentrate", he said, "Now, when I bring my face near your mouth, I need you to take a deep breath, concentrate your full attention on your knee and slam it into my stomach. Okay?"
"Got it", she said, "Deep breath, crotch kick"
"No! Not crotch", his voice rose in alarm, "Stomach. But when and if you are really being assaulted, go for their crotch"
"Yes. Come on"
Hideyuki winced and stepped back when Saki's knee landed with full force into the right side of his stomach. He smiled and forced the words out,
"Excellent. Good job"
Saki was too drunk and aroused to notice he was in pain. She pulled the white dress over her head, threw it on the wooden floor and advanced towards her boyfriend. Hideyuki tried to calm her down,
"Saki, we can't. You're drunk. I'd feel like I was taking advantage of you if I... oh sweet Jesus!"
She had placed his hands on her breasts, which were warm and heaving on that cold night. No matter how much she had coaxed him, begged him even, Hideyuki did not have sex with her since she was drunk. It made Saki hate alcohol even more.

Deep breath, crotch kick. Deep breath, crotch kick. Deep breath, crotch kick.
"Ahh!"
Saki stood above the howling man for a second, catching her breath, but ran out of the room soon enough to save herself. She made her way down the stairs, stumbled into the kitchen reserved for the caterers' service.
"Excuse me?"
One of the assembly line cooks answered her,
"Yes?"
"I am lost. Could you point me into the direction of the party?"
"Yes, ma'm. You just have to go straight into the corridor and take the first door to your left. It opens into the main hall"
"Thank you very much"
Saki drank a glass of water from the kitchen and found her way to the hall. She had to tell Madam Onoda about the assault. She had to find her.
"Your mother-in-law?", the hostess said, "Oh, dear. She was looking for you! She had a terrible headache and had to go home. I was so sorry that she had to go but she asked me to make sure you reached home safely. I will ask my personal driver to take you home"
"You're very kind. But I think I will take a bus or the nearest train"
"Don't be silly! How can you travel in a public vehicle? You are Tsuyoshi Onoda's wife! I will ask Lee to take you"
When Saki did get home, she was told by Hina that Madam Onoda had an excruciating headache and went to bed as soon as she came home. Well, she could tell her tomorrow, she supposed. Or she could tell Aimi now.
"Is Aimi awake?"
"I don't think so. Mrs. Onoda and the little ones went to bed early today"
"Oh"
"Are you alright, Saki-san? You look quite tired", Hina asked.
Saki made the effort to smile at her,
"I will be fine. Thank you, Hina. Good night"
"Good night"
Vigorous brushing, washing her lips with soap, nothing made Saki's disgust go away. She lay in bed, curled up like a ball, and decided against calling Onoda-san. The first thing she should have done was to go to the police, she knew that well. But since the incident happened at a party which a close friend of her stepmother-in-law's had thrown, Saki believed she should ask Madam Onoda's permission first. People like her were sensitive to bad reputation. Of course, she wouldn't deny her stepdaughter-in-law her right to get the police involved but it made much sense to ask her first.
'Or I could go to Saeba-san and Kaori-chan'
Saki struggled to make a decision and gave up on it till morning. Lying in that cold, gigantic bed, she felt lonelier than ever. Her eyes closed and she murmured the words.
"I need a hug, Onoda-san"
When she opened her eyes, he was not there. Saki hugged his plush pillow instead, muffled her face in it and slept until morning.