Chapter 2

In LA LA LAND

Author's Note III: So the answers to the previous chapter's song choices are: (drum roll please…)

4 in the morning by Gwen Stefani and Skippin by Mario. If you thought there were others; good job! It means that you know more songs than me. (surprised emoji)

Anyways, here's the second chapter. This is supposed to be alluding to In my secret life by Leonard Cohen (RIP: Nov. 7, 2016) andDirty Secret by The New Cities.

That instant rise in temperature, that Cherry Princess L'Occitane en Provence perfume, and that constant fast-pace beating heart made me uncomfortable. I tried to shut my eyes but a silhouette of a female emerged in my head with all the curves and sultry dance movements... It freaked me out. At that moment, a flight attendant was walking by.

"Hi, uhh, Miss Ritsu. I need a favor from you." The flight attendant stopped at my side.

"Yes sir. How may I help you?"

"Is it possible to turn the heater off?"

"Heater? Sir, the heater is at normal temperature. 98.6°F. I can check it again for you. But I'm sure the heater isn't hot enough for you to feel this way. Are you having a fever? Do you need medical help?" Miss Ritsu was about to check my temperature. But I slightly moved away from her hand.

"No it's fine. Sorry to bother you."

"Oh, well, as long as you are okay... You don't seem fine though…" Miss Ritsu had a worried look.

"No Miss, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern."

"Ok. If you need my help, don't be afraid to ask." And with that, the flight attendant left. I still felt warm as I felt a cold sweat drip on my face. I looked up at the fan button, and decided to turn it on. But as I was stretching my arm to reach it, I felt something heavy on my shoulder. I looked at my shoulder and realized that the woman in black satin's head was still leaning on me. I sighed. Well, I should tip her head back at the least… and gently tried to lift her head off my shoulder.

I started to release my hands when she voiced out in a whisper: "hmm… Kyo Sohma…" I froze (for the second time). (A/N: The first time was when Grace called him daddy) How did she know my name? I looked back at her to try to hear her murmurs. But nothing came out of her mouth. Her mouth… Her lips… they look really pink and plushy. I kind of want to… I looked away. NO! I can't! What am I even thinking? Kiss her? That's impossible. I have a fiancée. I can't be thinking that sort of things when I am soon-to-be-married. I looked back at the woman, her black veil dangled in her hand. I took that veil and was about to draw a boundary line. But a passenger from beside me called out:

"What are you trying to do?" Some other people around him looked at me. I quickly dropped the veil and excused myself to go to the bathroom.

"Don't just leave. Explain yourself!" The teenager said. I explained:

"Dude. I wasn't going to assault her if you were thinking about that. I wanted to put a blanket on her. Besides, it's none of your business."

"Well, from here, it didn't look like you were 'putting a blanket' on her."

"Dude. What's your name?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because you seem like a child that likes to accuse others… I should let your momma know." Beside the teenager, a woman was woken up.

"Hiro Ram, please… what's all this noise? I need sleep. Go back to sleep." The teenager blushed slightly.

"Don't think I'm okay with you knowing my name!" Hiro Ram declared, and then he coddled his mother. I thought: Well, it was none of his business from the start. I got up from my seat and went to the washroom.

In the washroom, for some reason, I suddenly remembered that heated night. It was a lot time ago, but the memory seemed fresh like it was yesterday. I remembered grabbing a young lady who had distinctive chocolaty eyes, and placing her on a counter of a bathroom. My mouth worked all over her, exploring the tiny twitches and tickles that made me want her more. We were taking off bits and pieces of clothing articles when… "BANG BANG!"

I was simultaneously aware of how small the bathroom was.

"Are you done already? Hurry it up!" I heard a man's voice from outside calling out. I quickly got out of the restroom as I glared at the caller and went back to my seat. As I put my seat belt on, I didn't notice that the woman in black satin woke up. She glanced at me. I stopped moving.

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing… I just found it funny how you were in there for so long. I thought maybe you must've fallen in a hole."

"No! I wouldn't have." The woman laughed for the first time.

"You should see your own expression… it's priceless." She continued laughing.

"I was joking of course. You looked so serious!" I tried to laugh along with her, but I stopped as I watched her continue laughing. It was melodic and for some strange reason, it reminded me of that same night. She stopped so suddenly as she said to me.

"By the way, the intercom announced that they are ready for landing. So…" She pointed to the sign on top.

"My seat belt. Got it." I tightened my seat belt and before looking straight ahead, I turned my head towards the woman. At the same time, our eyes met. That's when I realized that her eyes were chocolaty brown; her expression was full of curiosity, but also a hint of darkness and a hint of fear.

Kagura's voice popped into my head: Darling, call me when you get to LA. I averted my eyes to the front and felt the woman do the same. We just sat next to each other, looking straight ahead for the rest of the flight. Silence filled the air until landing.

Upon landing in Los Angeles and getting my baggage for the conference trip, I called my fiancée as I exited the LAX international airport. I waited for her to pick up, but instead it went to voicemail.

"Kagura? I've landed in LA. Please don't worry about me. Like I said before, the trip will only take 3 to 4 days. Before you know it, I'll be home. Bye now." As I hung up the phone, the woman and Grace walked out of the airport. I wanted to talk to her one last time, but seeing how the woman was also on the phone; I retreated back and decided to take a cab to my hotel.

I decided to stay in my room for this first night and review on my notes and presentation for the next morning. As it was close to midnight, I fell asleep and dreamt of the silhouette girl… In a way, this silhouette girl wasn't like the one that I was afraid of, she was short and holding someone else's hand as the two figures skipped across a field.

"Daddy?" The short silhouette called out.

"Yes my girl?"

"Will you be my daddy?